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Show iVeits Review of Current Events SEIZE AUSTRIA Reich Army Enters Vienna . . . Invasion Forces Schusch-nigg Schusch-nigg to Resign . . . European Powers Thrown Into Panic by Germany's Startling Coup . . . United States to Keep Hands Off, Secretary Hull Says. sMd W.-PicLuul SUMMARIZES THE WORLD'S WEEK Western Newspaper Union. Coup Amazes World STRIKING with startling rapidity Adolf Hitler's motorized army crossed the Austrian frontier, seized Vienna, forced Austrian Chancellor Kurt Schuschnigg to resign, and placed a full-fledged Nazi administration adminis-tration in command of the Austrian government. Jittery European governments were thrown into a panic as they learned of the German leader's astounding coup. Britain and France sent Hitler identical protests against the Austrian invasion, warning of grave reactions, and several other powers were reported to have joined in the protest. In Washington, Secretary of State Cordell Hull announced a hands off policy toward the European crisis, and noted leaders gave their opinion opin-ion that there was no immediate danger of a general war, although they regarded the present situation as highly dangerous. By a unanimous unani-mous vote, the House of Representatives Represen-tatives began consideration of the billion dollar naval expansion bill. Hitler's Austrian coup was a demonstration dem-onstration of the rapidity of modern armed forces. In less than twelve hours, 50,000 picked troops had advanced ad-vanced into Austrian territory and had forced the fall of the Schuschnigg Schusch-nigg government. At 10:15 o'clock at night the first mobile units crossed the border, at 1:15 in the morning the advance guard seized the Vienna police and telegraph stations sta-tions and clamped down a rigid cen-soi-sbip. Complete surprise marked the movement. This was in contrast to Germany's movements in 1914 when five days were required for her armies to enter Belgium. Faced with overwhelming forces, Schuschnigg broadcast the following follow-ing message to the Austrian people: "The President of the republic has received from the (German) Reichfuehrer and chancellor an ultimatum ul-timatum demanding that his own candidate be appointed head of a new Austrian government. "President Miklas asked me to tell you that the policy of the Austrian Aus-trian government is to recede from force so that no German blood shall be shed. "We have, therefore, given orders to our army that if it has occasion to meet German troops our soldiers will retreat. "I yield to brute force. We must avoid bloodshed. Our troops have been ordered to retire before German Ger-man troops and await further developments. de-velopments. "May God protect Austria." It was announced the plebiscite Schuschnigg had called for Sunday to permit the people to vote on whether the country would remain Independent or submit to Nazi rule had been called ofT. The plebiscite had been denounced by the Nazis as a violation of Austria's agreement agree-ment with Germany. Arthur Seyss-Inquart, Hitler's personal representative in the Austrian cabinet, assumed the post of chancellor and a new cabinet composed of Nazis was announced. Meanwhile, Italy's reaction to the German coup was watched with interest, in-terest, and it was believed to have placed a heavy strain on the Rome-Berlin Rome-Berlin accord. In 1934 Italy massed troops on the border to prevent Hitler's Hit-ler's Intervention in Austria, and preservation of the latter's independence inde-pendence has been a major point In Italian diplomacy. However, in view of the new accord existing between Italy and Germany, Mussolini will be forced to abandon either Austria or Germany, and since he has not completed negotiations with Great Britain and having few other European Euro-pean ties, he will be left In virtual isolation should he break with Hitler. Hit-ler. Unverified reports stated Italian Ital-ian troops were being rushed to the Brenner Pass, gateway between Italy and Austria. In London, stock market prices slumped as the coup became public news. Despite the strong terms In Britain's note to Hitler, It is believed be-lieved in some quarters that a deal has been made with Hitler, whereby the latter has been allowed a free hand In Central Europe In exchange for renouncing claims to colonies. France, already in the throes of internal disorders, and without n cabinet, stood helplessly by. Premier-Designate Illurn hurried consultations con-sultations with political lenders striving to rally support, and to combine the various opposing factions fac-tions Into a united group. Reverberations Reverber-ations In Czechoslovakia of Nazi power In Austria was the chief concern con-cern In France, although the cabinet cabi-net meeting In Prague wan said to be considering the situation calmly. Reports from P.ratli.lava, on the Austrian - Czechoslovakia border about 40 miles from Vienna, said trains and automobiles arriving there were filled with refugees from Vienna. Hungary was said to be strengthening strength-ening and reinforcing the defenses , along the closed Austrian frontier following an emergency cabinet meeting. TV A Pot Boils T ETERMINED to get the "low down" on the controversy among the directors of the Tennessee Tennes-see Valley authority, President yv?r-'rrzrry7 Roosevelt summoned r- ':-v'J 10 the White House ;.?-f Chairman Arthur E. f .?.'.' Morgan and his col- I j&$ leagues, David Lili- y?''f 1 cnthal and Harcourt i f J? "f Morgan. It was be- i i i'oved in Washing- ,i ton that if they I v'f;., ' 1 could not compose 'f'f'' !tlc'r differences he I f J" 4 might ask all of them to resign. Sen. byrnes Upon ou(come of this conference depended the action ac-tion of congress leaders in relation to the resolution calling for a senatorial sena-torial investigation of the entire TVA setup, sponsored by Senators Bridges of New Hampshire and King of Utah, and Senator Norris' proposal that the inquiry be conducted con-ducted by the federal trade commission. com-mission. Senator Byrnes of South Carolina put forward the suggestion, liked by many, that a single administrator adminis-trator be substituted for the three-man three-man board of TVA directors, this one man to be selected by a Joint committee of congress. Norris thought this plan had good features but would prefer a board of three business executives, who, in his opinion, would be more capable of administering the project than engineers, lawyers or other experts. Bridges engaged in hot debate with administration senators. . He defended his investigation resolution resolu-tion in a long speech In which he made detailed charges against the TVA administration and characterized charac-terized Lilienthal as a "Hitler" seeking to assert dictatorial powers over the Tennessee valley. j, Diplomats Shifted SHIFTING our diplomatic representatives repre-sentatives In Latin America, President Roosevelt sent to the sen-ale sen-ale these nominations: Meredith Nicholson of Indiana, now minister to Venezuela, transferred trans-ferred to Nicaragua. Boaz Long of New Mexico, now minister to Nicaragua, transferred to Ecuador. Antonio C. Gonzalez of New York, now minister to Ecuador, transferred trans-ferred to Venezuela. Hoover Sees Hitler FORM EH President Herbert Hoover, Hoo-ver, in Europe to study conditions, condi-tions, had n long talk In Berlin with Adolf Hitler, who expounded his views on world politics, and was entertained by other Nazi notables. nota-bles. At the close of his two-day vUit In the German capital Mr. Hoover Hoo-ver said only that he Is "oven more reinforced In his belief tttat progress prog-ress In America rests In the principles princi-ples of Intellectual liberty and spiritual spir-itual freedom, n system of free economy regulated to prevent abuse, und popular government." Wheeler in Action QENATOR WHEELER of Montana took the lead in opposing the bill for a reorganization of the executive branch of the government, and the debate took on many of the features of the senate battle over the Supreme court enlargement measure last year. Supporting the reorganization re-organization bill warmly were Senator Sena-tor Byrnes of South Carolina and others who backed the ill-fated ill-fated court scheme. iaiea court seneme. Wheeler said that Sen- Wheeler if congress approves the measure it ought to close up shop and go home. He was assailing the provision pro-vision of the bill authorizing the President to transfer, regroup, consolidate, con-solidate, or abolish any government bureau or agency or the functions thereof. "We have got to recognize the fact," said Wheeler, "that under Democratic institutions there is sometimes inefficiency in government.' govern-ment.' Certainly there can be more inefficiency, although it is not always al-ways obtained, under dictatorships. "The American people have got to recognize that it is necessary for them to pay the price in order to maintain their liberties. I say to the senate that it is far better that we maintain the bureaus we now have than it is to turn over dictatorial powers to the President of the United States and admit to the world that the congress of the United States, overwhelmingly Democratic Dem-ocratic in the house and in the senate, sen-ate, is incompetent to function." Byrnes said that Wheeler was imputing im-puting dictatorship ambitions to President Roosevelt and that he even feared for the safety of the republic. In replying to this, Wheeler Wheel-er intimated that he believed the republic would survive despite President Pres-ident Roosevelt. Family Firm Tax Killed GREATLY to the surprise of the majority leaders, the house, considering the tax bill, adopted an amendment offered by McCormack of Massachusetts, striking out the $45,000,000 surtax on family or closely-held corporations. This so called "third basket" levy was eliminated elim-inated by a vote of 180 to 124. Then the representatives voted to add 25 cents a gallon to the tax on distilled liquors. Chairman Doughton of the ways and means committee and Fred Vinson, who wrote the bill, vainly warned the representatives that the President would veto the measure unless that surtax were included. Democratic members of the committee com-mittee were hurriedly called together togeth-er to study possible "replacement" taxes to make up for the loss in revenue due to this change, and treasury officials pondered new sources of revenue. But Doughton, sore from his first defeat, said the house would go ahead with passage of the bill and leave the problem up to the senate. McCormack and his supporters-all supporters-all the Republicans and many Southern Democrats contended the surtax would penalize family-owned corporations. ultimately forcing them into the hands of monopolists. V War Pact Rumors rjKSPITE official denials, the ru- mors that the United States and Great Britain have entered into a secret war alliance persisted and were given credence when the house of commons was told by the parliamentary parlia-mentary undersecretary of the admiralty ad-miralty that there was an agreement between the two nations under which the American navy will be permitted to use the facilities of the great British naval base at Singapore Singa-pore on payment for services given. This privilege has been extended to no other nation. Secretary of State Hull would not confirm the existence of the agreement, but department officials admitted nn understanding had been reached and that It would greatly Increase the potential strength of our navy In the Far East. Our navy base in the Philippines Phil-ippines has no drydocks large enough to accommodate battleships. Cleveland's Clean-Up CHARGES were made In Clcve-land Clcve-land by Judge Alva R. Corlett that Chicago lubor leaders raised $25,000 In a plot to bribe a woman juror In the trial of Don A. Campbell Camp-bell and John E. McGce, alleged labor racketeers. The two men had Just been convicted of extortion. They were sentenced by Judge Corlett Cor-lett to serve from one to five years in the penitentiary and were taken there at once to block their efforts toward release on appeal bonds. The Judge said he was Informed of the bribery plot by Eliot Ness, Cleveland safety director, whose Investigation In-vestigation resulted In the Indictment Indict-ment of Campbell and McGce. We Take Two Islands UNDER orders from the President, Presi-dent, Secretary of the Interior Iekes nddeil to the Island possessions posses-sions of the United Slates which he supervises two little bits of land In the Pacific- Canton anil Endcrhy islands, is-lands, In the I'liiienix archipelago. Their value Is as stopping places for transoceanic air Mights to Australia. Aus-tralia. Included In the President's order are lands In the Antarctic first visited visit-ed by Admiral llyrd and other Americans. |