For some unknown reason all foreign journalists who went to the Foreign Office, as requested last night, io obtain permits to report the reception were detained.
When they attempted to leave, encouraged by the presence of high Austrian staff officers, including two generals, they were ordered back angrily by a German sentry. who stated: "I have orders to shoot immediately if the staircase is not evacuated."
The Austrian officers seemed most humiliated, but all complied with the sentry's orders.
The journalists were released at 1040 am. GMT. following an hours detention, and 40 minutes after Herr Hitler had arrived for the reception.
"So-Called Independence"
In the course of his address tothe Fuehrer said that the importance of the change in the German community of the last few days could only be gauged by future generations, The leader of the Legitimists, he declared, had laid down in a memorandum that their aim was the so-called independence of Austr which was then dependent on foreign money, in order to prevent the formation of a greater Reich and so bar the way to the future After proclaiming "the new mission of the eastern province," Herr Hitler thanked all who had assisted to accomplish the change, primarily Dr. Arthur Seys-Ingi and Party leaders, "and innumerable party members who had shown that Germans, under pressure. only became hardened."
The Fuehrer also thanked Austria for its wonderful order and discipline.
"This is," he concluded, "the gr est hour of my life as Leader and Chancellor of the German people.
Herr Hitler was introduced to the crowd by Dr. Seys-Inquart, who on his appointment as Reichstatthalter ceases to be Chancellor and who described himself to the Fuehrer as "the last highest functionary of old Austria."
I report to the Fuehrer as Reich-chancellor that Austria is a land of the German Reich," declared Dr. Seys-Inquart, and then addressing Herr Hitler he said:
"The strength of the whole German nation is concentrated in your will. My Fuehrer, we bring to you love and loyalty, and wherever you may lead we will follow."
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.