Report on the attempted Nazi coup in Austria (July 1934)

No. 13
(R 4127/37/3)
Mr. Hadow to Sir John Simon.—(Received July 23, 1934).
(By telephone)
(No. 89)
(Telegraphic) En clair. Vienna.
FOLLOWING is gist of official version of events of yesterday given verbally to Diplomatic Corps last night by Ministers Schuschnigg and Fey.
''Council of Ministers summoned at 11 A.M. was broken off because Major Fey had received news of massing of men in military and police uniforms in a suburb of Vienna. Schütz Corps were mobilized and Counsellors Fey and Karwinsky were preparing protective measures when five truck loads (roughly 100 men) in uniform of Deutschmeister Regiment drove up, seized Federal chancery and made the above three Ministers and secretary and Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, and roughly 140 civil servants, police detectives and soldiers prisoners. Chancellor was wounded in trying to escape by private staircase, being shot twice at close quarters.
"At the same time radio building in the centre of the town was similarly overwhelmed by twenty uniformed men and official announcer compelled to issue news that Dr. Dollfuss had resigned and Dr. Rintelen had taken his place as Chancellor. Police were soon able to reoccupy radio building, though material damage put the station temporarily out of action.
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"The remainder of cabinet who- had assembled in the Ministry of National Defense received orders from President Miklas, who returned to Vienna today, to reoccupy the federal chancery and , not to recognize insurgents. The latter then forced Major Fey to act as intermediary. Owing to the necessity of saving the lives of those imprisoned, whom the insurgents threatened with death if the building were attacked, the cabinet authorized Neustadter Sturmer to offer insurgents safe-conduct to German border, which they had requested, 'provided the three cabinet ministers were handed over unharmed'. Offer was made publicly at 6 P.M., Neustadter . Sturmer standing in the street below and Major Fey guarded by two insurgents with revolvers on balcony of building above. Insurgents asked German minister by telephone to witness agreement an,d demanded an escort of regular troops to the border. They also asked to be allowed to enter Germany and become German citizens.
"Negotiations then took place between German minister, Major Fey and Neustadter Sturmer and also privately between Dr. Rieth and insurgents in the building. As a result prisoners were released about 7 P. M. and insurgents, having laid down their arms, were taken under heavy escort to barracks in Vienna, where they still are. Chancellor, who saw Major Fey about 2
P.M. and asked that no blood should be shed, had unfortunately breathed his last about 6 P.M., not having had the services of a doctor.
"In reply to a question as to validity of guarantee of safe conduct now that chancellor had died, Dr. Schuschnigg replied that cabinet were still debating this point."