762.63/79

The Minister in Austria ( Stockton ) to the Acting Secretary of State

No. 837

Sir: With reference to my despatch No. 833, of May 13, 1933,4 concerning the proposed visit of certain German officials to Vienna, I have the honor to inform the Department that Dr. Frank, the Bavarian Minister of Justice, Dr. Kerrl, the Prussion Minister of Justice, and Secretary of State Freissler arrived at the Aspern Flying Field Saturday afternoon, May 13. Only a few of the Nazi leaders were admitted to the field, and it was reported that the Vice President of the Federal Police, Dr. Skubl, was the first person to greet Dr. Frank. The press quoted him as having said:

“I am instructed by the Federal Government to inform you that your visit is not particularly welcome to the Austrian Government in view of the incident which has not yet been closed. (Dr. Skubl evidently referred to Dr. Frank’s radio speech in which he had warned the Austrian Government against taking any action which might force Germany to interfere in Austrian affairs—see my despatch No. 781 of March 22, 1933.4) Nevertheless, the Federal Government has taken necessary precautions for your safety and for the safety of those accompanying you. In order to fully protect you, I must request that you inform me of your exact schedule during your stay.”

Dr. Frank replied sarcastically, “Please convey to the Federal Government my thanks for the cordial manner in which I have been received.”

Herr Frauenfeld, the Vienna Nazi leader, then stated that the police had been informed of Saturday’s schedule and would be advised as soon as possible of the program for Sunday.

Among those who also greeted the German officials were Herr Proksch, another Austrian National Socialist leader, the German Minister, Dr. Rieth, and members of the Legation staff. There were a few brief welcoming speeches, and the crowd outside of the flying field sang the Horst Wessel song and “Deutschland Über Alles.”

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The German officials, accompanied by Herr Frauenfeld, thereupon drove off to the Victory Monument in Aspern, where they laid a wreath. As demonstrations and disorders were taking place along the route agreed upon, the police altered it, much to the annoyance of the German guests and the National Socialists. The press of the following day reported that 86 persons had been arrested for minor disturbances. After a short stay at the Brown House, the German officials motored to Modling, a nearby town, where they were cordially received by the Pan-German Bürgermeister. In the evening they attended a celebration in commemoration of the deliverance of Vienna from the Turks, held in the Engelmann Arena. The cautious Tag-blatt estimated that the meeting was attended by 12,000, the Freie Presse, 14,000, while the National Socialist Doetz reported that there were 20,000 persons present. However, Mr. MacCormac, the Vienna correspondent of the New York Times, told me that he estimated there were only about 5,000.

Dr. Frank, in the course of his address, said that unfortunately the police regulations compelled him to confine his remarks to the deliverance of Vienna from the Turks. However, in conclusion, he conveyed Hitler’s greetings to Vienna, of which, he said, the German Chancellor still regarded himself as a citizen. He further announced that Hitler had requested him to state publicly he proposed to visit Austria within the next few weeks whether he was wanted or not. Dr. Frank added that it certainly would not be possible to refuse the German Chancellor the right to visit the tomb of his parents in this country.

Herr Kerrl declared that the German people should stand together as they had 250 years ago and that “One Race, One Nation” should be their slogan.

Frauenfeld referred to the manner in which the Austrians had driven the Turks out of Vienna, and added that the National Socialists would soon rid the city of the Heimwehr cock-feather as their forefathers had rid it of the Turkish fez.

At a luncheon given at the German Legation in honor of the visitors, to which prominent National Socialists were invited, Dr. Frank declared in a speech that he would report to Berlin his unfriendly reception by the police at the flying field. The Vienna papers reported that after dinner a reception was given to certain members of the press. The Nazi Doetz quoted Dr. Frank as having declared to the journalists, “We love Austria and nobody will be able to prevent the Anschluss between this country and Germany.”

Sunday afternoon Dr. Frank motored to Graz. At a reception given in his honor he again referred to the manner in which he had been received at Aspern and declared that it was not only an insult [Page 430] to the German Chancellor, but also to the entire German Reich. He threatened that until atonement had been made no other Germans would come to Austria. He added that the German Government would not take lightly the coolness of the Austrian Government’s attitude towards him.

The Austrian Government took exception to Dr. Frank’s remarks and issued an order for his deportation. Upon learning in Salzburg that he was to be expelled, Dr. Frank announced that he would defer his departure for Germany until he had had tea. The news that he was being expelled soon spread and demonstrations followed, which, however, were quickly dispersed by the police. Dr. Frank took his tea rather hurriedly, as the press reported he left Salzburg within half an hour after his arrival.

The semi-official Political Korrespondenz, through which the Austrian Government gives out news which it does not wish to issue as an official communiqué, announced on May 16 that Herr Tauschitz, the Austrian Minister at Berlin had been instructed to protest to the German Foreign Office with regard to the utterances of Dr. Frank in Austria, and to urge his recall. It also announced that, under instructions from Berlin, Dr. Rieth, the German Minister, had called upon Dr. Dollfuss to protest against the reception which had been accorded Dr. Frank and the other German officials. Dr. Dollfuss was quoted as having replied that the Austrian Government would consider the German protest when the incident arising out of Dr. Frank’s broadcast from Munich had been satisfactorily settled in accordance with the Austrian Governments repeated requests.

The Neue Freie Presse of May 13, in one of its usual weak-kneed and ambiguous editorials, declared that the visit of the German officials would sadden every person who feels German. It blamed the controversy betwen the German Nazi Völkischer Beobachter and the Reichspost, the Austrian Government organ, for creating an atmosphere which made it impossible for Frank’s visit to be without political significance.

On the same day the Tagblatt, which supports the Government, stated the propaganda scheme of the visitors had to be abandoned, as the Austrian Government had shown clearly that it had no intention of brooking outside interference in its internal affairs.

Doetz of May 16 declared that a great power would hardly have dared to have accorded such a reception to the representatives of an insignificant negro republic, and certainly no small state would be expected to greet in such a manner the representatives of a great power whose people were of the same race, culture, blood, and language. In conclusion it stated that Austria was largely dependent upon tourists, particularly from Germany, and asked if ministers were received in [Page 431] such a manner, what kind of a reception could the average German expect.

In my opinion, this visit has increased materially the bitterness and tension already existing between the Wilhelmstrasse and the Ballhausplatz. It is generally believed that Dr. Frank announced that Hitler proposed to visit Austria in the near future upon the authority of the Reich Chancellor himself. It is difficult to understand what Berlin expected to accomplish by sending Dr. Frank to Vienna, as he was already anathema to the Austrian Government and a majority of the Austrian people because of his recent radio speech. If Hitler really intends to come to Austria, he chose a strange John the Baptist to prepare the way for him. Many Austrians who formerly were sentimentally inclined toward the Anschluss, have suddenly awakened to the danger threatening their country. Dr. Dollfuss is putting up a gallant fight for Austria’s independence, and, in my opinion, the great silent vote is rallying to his standard.

The Social Democrats are apparently so bewildered that they don’t know which way to turn. However, I am assured by M. Fierlinger, the Czech Minister, who is in intimate contact with the Social Democratic leaders, that they would tacitly support the Government as long as it continued its present policy, provided it does not veer towards legitimism. In spite of the caustic criticism of the Government which from time to time appears in the Social Democratic press, it is nevertheless clear that the Social Democratic leaders now fully realize the Nazi peril and that the Dollfuss Government is the lesser of two evils. The French Socialist press has recently been urging that France take no further part in bringing the Austrian loan to fruition as long as the Dollfuss Dictatorship continues in power. This shows a complete lack of understanding with regard to the situation here. Despite the fact that it is a semi-dictatorship, in my opinion, the Dollfuss Government is the last refuge of liberalism in Austria. Should it be overthrown, the present coalition might well be irreparably disrupted, and the fight would thenceforth be between the National Socialists, who have already practically absorbed the Pan-German Party as well as the Styrian Heimwehr, on the one hand, and the Social Democrats on the other. In view of the trend of the times and the propaganda which will deluge this country from Germany, there is little doubt that the Social Democrats would soon be completely crushed, as they were in the Reich.

Herr Hornbostel, Chief of the Political Bureau of the Foreign Office, recently confided to me that the wealthy Austrian Jews had approached Dr. Dollfuss and had assured him that if the French loan did not materialize they would see that the Government was provided with the necessary funds. Although this was a wise move on the part of the [Page 432] Jews, it may later prove embarrassing to the Chancellor. The Jews are shrewd enough to realize that an independent Austria is the last bulwark of Jewry in Central Europe. Dr. Dollfuss is, I think, also shrewd enough to grasp the danger of giving the Nazis ground for stigmatizing him as being under the financial domination of the Jews.

Although I still do not believe that more than 30% of the Austrian people are National Socialists, nevertheless they are a compact and dynamic force, and are apparently well financed. Should conditions improve in Germany and not here, the Nazi movement in Austria will take on new impetus. The Dollfuss Government is in a position very similar to that of the Bruening Government. However, it may well profit by the latter’s mistakes. Despite the pressure which is being exerted on him from every side, Dr. Dollfuss seems determined to steer a middle course. Should Austrian economic conditions show some slight improvement, he may be able to hold the Nazis off until the danger is past. Through the technicality referred to in my despatch No. 769 of March 10, 1933,6 he can continue to govern by decrees issued by virtue of the Enabling Act of 1917 until the present Parliament expires in December, 1934, provided his Government is not overthrown by internal dissension or by a coup d’état from without. Should the National Socialists come into power in Austria, I do not think any attempt would be made to bring about the Anschluss immediately. However, to all intents and purposes Austria would from that day be an integral part of the Reich. The Ballhausplatz would take its orders direct from the Wilhelmstrasse.

Although Proksch and Frauenfeld are the nominal leaders of National Socialism in Austria, a German, Theodor Habicht, Reichstag Deputy and Inspector of the Austrian National Socialists, is the real power behind the movement in this country. It is generally understood that it is to him the Austrian Nazis look for leadership. National Socialism is a German political party and is in no sense indigenous to this country. Therefore, in the event of a Nazi victory, the Anschluss, though it might be deferred, would become inevitable. The success of the National Socialists in Austria is accordingly fraught with peril for European peace. It is difficult to believe that either France or Italy would supinely submit to the absorption of Austria by the Reich under any subterfuge. I am apprehensive of the situation in this country and believe that the Dollfuss Cabinet should have all the moral support it is possible to give it. Austria is today in as strategical and critical position as was the Austro-Hungarian Empire in 1914. However, in this instance the present Austrian Government is fortunately a force for peace.

Respectfully yours,

G. B. Stockton
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