314. Editorial Note
On March 12, the National Committee of the Austrian People’s Party, which held a plurality in Parliament, called for national elections on May 10. According to airgram G–316 from Vienna, March 13, Raab, leader of the People’s Party, had reached the decision in February to move up the date for elections from the fall to the spring of 1959 as a means of exerting pressure on its governing coalition partner, the Austrian Socialist Party, led by Pittermann. (Department of State, Central Files, 763.00/3–1359)