The Austrian Vote
The Association of Independents which, under the leadership of Herr Kraus, has won sixteen seats in the Austrian General Election, has had the Nazi label attached to it. There is a certain amount of justification for this charge ; in his pan-Germanism, his opposition to clericalism and the older parties, and in his even fiercer opposition to Communism, Herr Kraus preaches a doctrine which has undoubtedly attracted many heirs of Nazism to his banner. But there are others besides impenitent Nazis in his camp. Pan- Germanism is a doctrine whose roots in Austria long antedate Hitler ; the coalition between the People's Party and the Social Democrats which has held power for the past four years inevitably drove the more restless voters, particularly among the young, into an open gesture of opposition ; and fear of Communism needs no explanation in a country which is a neighbour of Czechoslovakia and in which the Red Army still squats. As a third party the Association of Independents is capable of exercising a considerable influence on the course of Austrian politics. The People's Party, with 77 seats, and the Social Democrats, with 67 scats, can obviously continue their coalition without any trouble for as long as they both wish. But they will now be each aware that, should their coalition ever break down within the life of the present parliament, material for an alternate government is available for themselves (or for their colleagues). This possible eventuality, however remote it may seem today (for the two major parties are prepared to go on working together and arc separated on no major point of principle), will certainly mean that the Association of Independents is treated with more consideration than its numbers or antecedents would justify.
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