Oldal 2 [2]
Xsdole Vecember 526
- page two =
slackened in their support. “uring past elections, it was always
obvious that, while the nussian army was rather disdainsful of the
communist Farty, the support used to come from the civilian branches
of Soviet administration, this time nevertheless, Army and civilians
are of one mind and hence the support will be much more effective.
This is widely due to very stern orders from Moscow, which have
directed Soviet authoritics in 4ustria to make every possible effort
to assure the country of a marxist majority. I1t is the Soviet
interst that the combined votes of socialists and communists should ‘
have the absolute majority in Farlianent. By achieving this, the
communists could effectively strengthen the hands of the more radical
Socialists and hence force 4ustria gradually into a situation, whereby
major legislation would have to be passed by the socialist-communist
majority. The Russian spec@lation is, that under such conditions, the
Socialist would sonn be forced to give the Chancellor's position to
Austria's Bevan, Minister Waldbrunner. He in turn would so much
radicalize the Party, that very soon right and leftwing socialists
would Split, thus giving genuine power to the extreme Left. In
supporting this scheme, the Austrian communists are preparing several
steps: They will not stand in the elections as communists, but under
anew name the "United People's Opposition™®,. They will give place on
their lists to all sorts of dissidents of other parties and will join
their efforts with those of Professor Dobretsberger's Democratic Union.
They will also. open their ranks to leading former Nazis - while not
making a coalition with the so-called National League, since the latter
has become too obviously affiliated with the Red army. These new
maneuvers will undoubtedly increase the voting appeal of the lists
presented by the communists. Furthermore, in recent frade Union
elections, the communists hav: increased their votes very much indeed
as the result of popular dissatisfaction with the rise of unemployment.
All this, experts agree, will iead to an important rise in communist
votes, which might well bring about an increase of communist represen¬
tation in the Austrian Parliament of from 2 to 5 seats. Nevertheless
it is agrsed by all experts, that, while the communist efforts are
mostly concentrated on winning support from disgruntled middls-class
sLements, their gain in seats will be to the sole detrinent of the
Socialist Farty.
in this connection, it is interesting to note that there are
Gefinite signs of increasing Russian espionage activities. From the
headquarters in Baden, the Soviets direct now all the activities of
their agents in Trieste and Northern Italy, as well as into Yougo¬
slaviae The espionage networks are of purely offensive charact ry
while the headquarters for defensive espionage and counter-intelligence
are outside of austriae in the military field, the voviet forces in
Austria fluctuate between 45 and 50.000 men. hese forces are mainly
the three Soviet combat units on “ustrian soil; namely the 13th
armoured Division, the 95th Infantry Guards Division and the 23a Anti¬
aircraft Division. ‘he Armoured Vivision possesses 485 T 34-85 tanks
The Soviet airforce has at present, at its four major airports in
Austria - namely Wien-aspern, Zwoelfaxing, Deutsch-Wagran and Wiener 2