701.6311/390b: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Germany (Wilson)84
27. For your information. The following statement was made to the press by the Department on March 19, 1938:85
“On March 17, 1938, the Minister of the Republic of Austria, Mr. Edgar Prochnik, informed the Department of State that, as a result of the developments which have occurred in Austria, that country has ceased to exist as an independent nation and has been incorporated in the German Reich; that therefore the Austrian mission to this country, of which he has been the head, has been abolished; and that the affairs of the mission have been taken over by the Embassy of Germany. The German Ambassador has informed the Department of State that he has assumed the functions hitherto performed by the Minister of Austria.
“The events pertaining to the changes which have taken place in the status of the Austrian Republic will necessitate, on the part of the Government of the United States, a number of technical steps, which are now being given appropriate consideration.”
At his press conference today the Secretary of State, in response to inquiries concerning the Austrian incident, said: [Page 457]
“The day before yesterday I discussed fully the principles governing peaceful and orderly international relations and their application to present conditions in European and other world areas.
“The extent to which the Austrian incident, or any similar incident, is calculated to endanger the maintenance of peace and the preservation of the principles in which this Government believes is of course a matter of serious concern to the Government of the United States.”