863.00/1528: Telegram

The Chargé in Austria (Wiley) to the Secretary of State

111. Numerous laws and regulations affecting Austria announced Berlin which I suppose Embassy is reporting.

British Minister telephoned from London. He confidentially informed British Chargé d’Affaires that a Consul General would arrive about April 15th.

French Legation doubtful whether French Minister will return.

Nuncio has had no instructions and has not been able to establish relations with anyone. States Germans seem to have adopted certain conditions that diplomatic missions do not exist and never existed. He considers situation church bad and that of “non-Aryans” one-third of Vienna population utterly hopeless. He anticipates intensified terror after so-called plebiscite April 10 and thinks Miklas also arrested and fears that he, Schuschnigg, Hornbostel, et cetera, transported indefinitely perhaps killed in order to prevent their correcting German allegations regarding methods used vis-à-vis Austria.

Diplomatic status and immunity getting more tenuous every day and question of free entry has not been worked out. This is particularly important in respect of gasoline since we are compelled to use our cars constantly for protection cases. Also understand certain foodstuffs may be rationed.

Reference telegram No. 131, March 17, 8 p.m. from Berlin.82 Should I try to establish unofficial relations with Von Stein?83 He was German Counsellor here.

Wiley
  1. Not printed.
  2. In telegram No. 40, March 19, noon, the Secretary of State stated that he had no objection to The Chargé in Austria seeing Von Stein (363.6315/9).