AUSTRIA: Dispensable Luxuries

Desperately determined last week to reduce Austrian imports this year by $50,000,000, the National Assembly decreed that a "special license" (which the Government proposes not to issue) will have to be obtained by anyone seeking to import into Austria "bananas, coconuts, pineapples, canned fruit, dried prunes, lard, butter, bacon, condensed milk, rubber goods, cotton goods, fresh or frozen meat excepting the overseas variety, automobiles, radios, electrical goods, paper, cast iron pipes, lobsters, oysters, caviar, liquors, wines, watches, cosmetics or pickles."

Irate Viennese storekeepers threatened a shut-up-shop strike. "Nonsense!" snapped Chancellor Buresch....

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