CORRESPONDENCE
A LETTER FROM VIENNA
[To the Editor of the SPECTATOR.] SIR,—Lately there have been exciting scenes in the Austrian Parliament, as the large problems about the Tenants' Pro- tection Act, support and " dole " for the unemployed and the reform of the schools were discussed again. The last question in particular has become acute, for the Socialistic Opposition, taking the opportunity of Monsignor Seipel's absence at the Eucharistic Congress—he is the soul of the Government—handed in their proposal, which was signed by the Minister of Education. Chancellor Ramek refused to sign and a hand-to-hand fight took place in Parliament as well as in the streets.
In consequence the demand for a Dictatorship or Fascism and the abolition of Parliament grows stronger. The present state of affairs cannot go on much longer. Austria has become the milch-cow for party politicians. Terror is domin- ating industry. Austria is a consumer and not a producer. She can exist only as a member of one large organization, be it as a part of Germany or as a member of a Danubian Federation. The possibility of a loose connexion with Italy is, however, not to be ignored.
Although Vienna has remained in the centre of an artistic world, it is in an exceedingly bad state. The luxury taxes are very high ; theatres and other places of amusement are obliged to close. Bolshevistic emissaries are making Vienna the centre of Balkan Bolshevism. The Red Town Council is having ugly houses (each for 8-5,000 inhabitants) built, and these disfigure parts of the city.
Unfortunately Vienna with her 1,820,000 inhabitants is the capital of a country with a population of only 6,500,000 —a little body with a huge head. Corruption reigns in the Socialistic Viennese papers. Lately two editors of a leading Red evening paper were sentenced for blackmail. Trash literature is gaining a monstrous circulation, but the Town Council of Vienna and the Mayor have "Laissez faire, laissez passer" as their motto.
In the country, however, things are looking much better, for the solid farmers soon got over the crisis. Recently the League of Nations in Geneva made the acquaintance of a farmer, a self-made man, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, J. Kollman. He was the son of a peasant in Krain and later managed a laundry in Baden, which he inherited. He became Town Councillor, Mayor of Baden, National Councillor and lastly Chancellor of the Exchequer. He had had little education, but he made such an impression in Geneva that he obtained a not inconsiderable loan for Austria.
The Socialistic papers publish a good deal of false news about Italy. It is interesting to hear a fact on the other side, namely, that in South Tirol (Trentino) a German paper is now appearing. It is making the Germans of South Tirol acquainted with the ideas of Fascism.
Austria is a relatively good customer of British goods. British motor-bicycles, wireless sets, tyres and petrol arc chiefly in demand. British goods, however, are still articles de has for us. Their prices are extremely high. You may explain this by your wages. Austrian miners get £2 10s.—L5 a month. The majority of Austrians can hardly feel much interest in your miners' strike. An English miner gets more than double the pay of an Austrian public school teacher.— I am, Sir, &c., YOU& VIENNA CORRESPONDENT.
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