News of the Week
WHAT the Austrian Government called the suppression of a Socialist outbreak was in fact civil war, and a form of civil war which makes international complica- tions dangerously probable. The elements in the Austrian situation are simple. There are the Nazis, Supported by Germany. There is the Fascist Heimwehr,• approved by Italy. There are the Socialists, approved by every French Government since the 1932 elections down to the fall. of M. Daladier's Administration ten days ago. If Dr. DollfuSs- could. have played : off the -Heimwehr and the Socialists against the Nazis his way would have been easy- and his' victory swift. But the- hatred of the Heimwelir; 'representing the • Roman Catholic Church and the provinces, against the irreligious democracy of the capital, was implacable, and the Chancellor has been driven more and more into the hands of the Heim- wehr leaders, Prince Starhcmberg and Major Fey. For that. Signor Mussolini must be held in some degree responsible, though Italian interference with Austria's internal affairs was negligible compared with German. It can be no mere coincidence that the blow at the Socialists 'Was struck the moment a Government no longer favourable to Socialism came into office in France.
