AUSTRIA'S FUTURE
SIR,—I have read with interest Mr. Richard S. Rowntree's letter in your issue of October 25th. I have just returned to England after spending sixteen months in Austria. My work there with the British Military Government brought me in close touch with the Austrian people, and I had an unrivalled opportunity of hearing their views and of studying their problems. I endorse the statement made by Mr. Rowntrce—that probably the majority of Austrians are looking at the present time towards Britain for help and leadership. To serve any useful purpose, this help and leadership must be given at once. In the early days of the occupaticn the hopes of the Austrians stood high. They, like the British, see eye to eye with us on many subjects and admire our political institutions. They were sick and tired of a regime which had been forced upon them, and with which the majority of them had had no sympathy. They had no liking of dictatorships, no matter what their form or origin, and they were longing for a political form of democracy which permitted them to work and to live their lives in peace. The Austrians are painfully aware of their geographical situation, and of the limits which this situation imposes upon their freedom. For years they have suffered, and with the advent of the British they saw a new hope. They were impatient, and expected too much too soon, and unfortunately disillusionment is taking the place of hope. Our interest and duty require us to keep this hope alive, and to give confidence in its fulfilment. I agree that action to be successful must be taken at once, and I join with Mr. Rowntree in hoping that a conference of the bodies and societies with the objects indicated by him be called in the immediate future.—Yours faithfully,
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