1 FEBRUARY 1946, Page 14

THE NEW AUSTRIA

Sm,—May I make a slight comment on the paragraph entitled "The New Austria," which appeared m The Spectator of January11th? Dr. Renner, who is a Socialist, was elected to the office of President by the newly-formed National Parliament, partly as a reward for his services rendered as Chancellor in the provisional Austrian Government from May to November, 1945, and partly to preserve the coalition aspect of the new Government, which wa's necessitated by the results of the elections; it is Ing. Figl, on the other hand, the leader of the People's Party, who was elected Chancellor as a result of his party's majority in Parliament. It can hardly be said, therefore, that "Dr. Renner's leadership rests upon the victory of the Austrian People's Party in the elections." This statement, moreover, tends to convey the erroneous impression that he is a member of the People's Party, whereas his present appointment is more in the nature of a consolation prize after the defeat of his own party, and his consequent loss of the