863.00/956: Telegram
The Minister in Austria (Messersmith) to the Secretary of State
[Received July 26—2:40 a.m.]
81. Mayor Vienna assembled chiefs missions and made following statement:
About 1 o’clock small group Nazis took possession Vienna radio and at same time about 100 men in police and army uniforms took possession Foreign Office where Cabinet had been in session. The Chancellor, Fey and Karwinski were made prisoners the Chancellor being shot in breast and gravity of wound not yet definitely determined.
[Page 30]Remainder Cabinet met under Schuschnigg26 and endeavored open communication with Nazis in the Foreign Office and received a communication from Fey that the Chancellor was wounded and would recognize any successor named by the President who from South Austria where he is on holiday stated he could not recognize any communication from imprisoned members of Cabinet acting under duress. Ministers were informed by Nazis that unless entire Cabinet resigned imprisoned members would be shot.
Although Ministers hesitated to order police surrounding building to clear it fearing besieged would carry out threat necessity for action became evident and ultimatum was issued to besieged to surrender and they would be given safe conduct to the border. No definite answer being received police were ordered to clear building using first gas which action in progress.
Official and other reports indicate while a police commandant in Tyrol shot and Nazis had temporarily occupied some Government offices in Styria the whole country is quiet as is Vienna where action has been localized at radio station and the Foreign Office.
While all circumstances not yet clear vacancy in determined factors would indicate today’s events an abortive attempt of Nazis to secure control of the Government through terrorizing Cabinet.
Vice Chancellor Starhemberg returning by aeroplane Vienna this evening from holiday Italy.
- Kurt Schuschnigg, Austrian Minister of Education and of Justice.↩