Appeal to Borah

At Innsbruck, in the Northern Tyrol, 3,000 pan-Germans jammed into an inadequate hall and denounced both Premier Mussolini of Italy and Premier Remek of Austria. Finally their indignation simmered down a trifle and vented itself in a long cablegram to U. S. Senator William Edgar Borah of Boise, Idaho.

The pan-Germans denounced Mussolini because of his recently announced intention (TIME, Feb. 15 et seq.) of continuing "rigorously, methodically and obstinately" to Italianize the Alto Adige, formerly the Southern (Austrian) Tyrol, which was transferred to Italy after the War.

The pan-Germans at Innsbruck denounced Premier Remek and cursed him roundly, because he has not dared either to denounce Mussolini or to appeal to the League of Nations for gentler Italian treatment of the South Tyrolians.

Lastly, the pan-Germans appealed to Senator Borah as follows:

"A joint meeting of all* the political parties in the Tyrol seeks to remind you, as a protector of oppressed peoples, that the recent imperialistic utterances of Premier Mussolini have caused intense unrest and excitement in the Tyrol and that our brethren under Italian domination are exposed to ruthless Fascist tyranny. President Wilson said in his memoirs that the handing over of South Tyrol to Italy was one of the greatest mistakes of the peace treaties."

Borah's Reply. Late despatches from Innsbruck declared that the waiting Tyrolians had not yet received a direct reply but that parts of a statement made by the Senator to U. S. pressmen had "evoked enthusiasm" when cabled to Austria. He said:

"I shall not undertake to say that there is anything I can do, or we can do. . . I think, as President Wilson said, that the transfer of the Southern Tyrol was a great injustice to the people of the Tyrol and if I could be of any help in righting this wrong I would take action."

*Despatches did not establish that the meeting actually represented all parties.