Policeman Schober

When domestic quarrels threaten acute physical violence, nervous householders send for a policeman to restore order. So, last week, did the Austrian Republic. Frightened by the imminent threat of civil war between Austria's two snarling private armies (the semi-Fascist Heimwehr, and the Socialist Schutzbund), the entire cabinet of Chancellor Ernst Streeruwitz, an ineffectual businessman, declared itself incapable of dealing with the situation, resigned in a body. Leaders of all political parties rushed to Vienna's police station, begged sleek white-bearded Police Chief Johann Schober to take over the reins of government.

Used to acting promptly in emergencies, Policeman Schober, who served as Austrian Chancellor once before (1921-22), instantly accepted on condition that he be given absolutely free rein in forming his cabinet, that, as Chancellor, he still remain in direct charge of his beloved police.

With the possible exception of that crafty cleric, bald, eagle-beaked ex-Chancellor Ignaz Seipel, Policeman Schober, conservative but officially aligned with no political party, is the strongest figure in present day Austria. Without even waiting for any official announcement of policy from the new Chancellor, without even learning who was to compose his new cabinet, editors of all political faiths sprang to the conclusion that with good Policeman Schober in command everything would be all right.

Despite the seriousness of the situation that faced him, the first few days of Chancellor Schober's administration seemed to justify Vienna's blind faith. Telephoning vigorously, rushing from office building to office building, he completed and published a list of his cabinet within 24 hours, a task that had taken his predecessor Chancellor Streeruwitz three weeks. As a precautionary step against threatened Heimwehr-Schutzbund riots he suspended all military furloughs, ordered all Austrian troops to be ready for immediate action. In Vienna he suppressed an edition of the Communist newspaper Rote Fahne, arrested its editor "for inciting troops to mutiny against the new government." In the country he sent bus loads of soldiers careening over dusty roads to remove guns and munitions from rural arsenals lest they be seized by rioters. Only then did he sit down, wipe his pink brow, and rest. He needed the rest. Worried friends last week reminded each other that for many years Policeman Schober's heart has been none too strong.

Chagrined at Policeman Schober's cabinet was the Austrian Heimwehr. For months they have been holding Schober up as a model of the sort of man who ought to be Chancellor of Austria. Now Schober was Chancellor, and not only was there no member of the Heimwehr listed on his cabinet, but it was quickly evident he was strong enough to rule Austria himself, quite independent of Heimwehr dictatorship.

Familiar to U. S. observers were three names in the new cabinet: Minister of Defense Vaugoin, reorganizer of the Austrian army, firm friend and ardent follower of Policeman Schober; Minister of Commerce Hainisch, Austria's beloved, white-bearded onetime President, whose pet cow Bella is world famed; and Minister of Finance Redlich. When the name of the new Minister of Finance was announced to Austrian newsgatherers, Dr. Josef Redlich, famed jurist, historian, lecturer, was at Cambridge, Mass., comfortably ensconced as Charles Stebbins Fairchild Professor of Comparative Public Law at Harvard University. Professor Redlich has already served a term as Austrian Minister of Finance in the short-lived Lammasch Cabinet of ex-Emperor Karl. Last week reporters found him on the steps of Harvard's Widener Memorial Library, a green baize book bag under his arm.

"Do you know," said he, "I have not yet been officially informed of all this from Austria, but I dare say the rumor may have some foundation."