Stranica 2 [2]
OCR
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 representation 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 Yougoslaviae 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 Antiaircraft 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
