Evening star., 1946-07-25
Letters to The Star
Russian Policy in Austria
Defended by DR.. Rie
To tn. Editor of The star:

iSiC1uCd ny LIZ. NIe
To the Editor of The Star:
So many things are said against the
Russian administration OF occupied
countries, so many reports are published
every day picturing Mr. Molotov as a
true concoction of Ribbentrop plus
Papen and Rosenberg, that 1t might be
worthwhile to look into the situation
of one occupied country.
Modern Austria is divided "in parties
quattuor," one more than Caesars Gaul
and just as many as Germany: The
occupational zones.
Starvation in the country is not so
bad as in Vienna, where the popula ton
lives off the black market However, there
American soldiers and other nationals
have been able to exchange cigarettes,
etc, against "Beutegut" booty with
Viennese, which shows that Austrian
soldiers did loot in German occupied
countries-flrst of all Russia. Here one
can see the first task for the govern
ment OF Chancellor Figl, and we must
admit that Molotov wins one point.
Austrian papers, recognizing the Rus
sian help in reconstructing the Viennese
Danube bridges, complain about the
expulsion of Germans, because of the
threatening lack of farmhands. When
Gen. Eisenhower began the conquest
of Germany and Austria, the popu-
lations of these countries had been
warned that they must not join the
'Volkssturm," but had better take care
OF the fields. All letters from Austria
contain pleas for food parcels, but they
do not tell what the senders are doing
to alleviate the situation.
Considerable excitement broke loose
when Russia expelled $4,000 Germans
from her Austrian zone. Chancellor
F1gl called the National Assembly for
special session, the press in this coun-
try had big headlines, the Russian
outrage was obvious. Only the other
day-under much smaller headlines
it was announced that the Allied Com
mission suggested thorough deNazifi-
cation of the Austrian government en-
ployes. Thereby was conceded what
the bad Russians always had main
tanned, that Austria was late and slow
In purging herself.
A German language paper in this
country printed recently report from
Austria, stating that the head OF the
office for indemnity OF property losses
suffered under the Nazi regime In the
province of Upper Austria is the same
government employe who had to seize
these properties during the Nazi
regime.
Viennese call the zones which are
occupied by the western Allies the
"Goldenen Westen" Golden Vest .
There all the Nazis found shelter and
there they hide their loot.
In Styria and Carinthia English oc-
cupied) 1t is a common joke that one
can get an apartment only by showing
the membership card Of the Nazi party.
In Tyrol I personally know that
German Nazi, proud possessor OF Nazi
membership card, issued 1882, is work.
ing as interpreter with the French oc-
cupational forces.
After one year the Austrian govern
ment, very much upset by the seizure
Of German property by Russia has not
done thing to indemnify the victims
Of the Nazi seizure Of property. The
purge OF the universities remains below
expectation, and the fact that the gov
ernment even considers the engagement
Of Furtwangler, the NaA conductor, for
the Salzburg festivals. shows how very
much 1t misunderstands the entire
problem.
AS to the seizure Of property by the
Russians, a certain shortcoming OF
Allied policy comes to the surface: The
Russian action would be more illegal II
there had existed an Austrian govern
ment-in-exile" Around such a govern
happy country could have gathered and
it could have been declared legal owner
of the former Austrian assets and
claims. Thus "de jure" carrier of the
rights of Austrian sovereignty would
have existed. But it did not. The fact
ognized the "Anschluss" proved a great
help for the refugees from Austria In
this country during the war, but had no
positive legal consequences. Germany
was the successor to the Austrian rights
Of sovereignty-in Washington the Aus
trian envoy handed the legation build
ing over to the German Embassy-and
from the viewpoint of international
law one regrets to see certain strength
in Russia's claim for Austrian as-now
''de jure"-German assets.
Let us hope that the government Of
the Austrian republic will do every
thing to prove itself useful and con-
siderate member of world democracy.
resolved to defend its rights not only
against our eastern Ally, but also
against Fascism and Nazism. before
which the Austria Of 1888 broke down,
without fight, without single shot.
nTr