Israel News : Austrian diplomats slam Congressman Lantos for Nazi comment

Austrian diplomats here and in in Washington have taken issue with an indictment of their country by Congressman Tom Lantos (D-Calif.) by asserting that Austria's attitude toward its Nazi past has changed drastically in the past 15 years. In an address at the Holocaust Remembrance Day commemoration here last month, the Hungarian-born Lantos declared, 'I am tired of being told that Austria was the first victim of Hitler, when in fact Austria was the first ally of Hitler.' Lantos, the only Holocaust survivor serving in Congress, added, 'I look forward to the day, not far in the future, when the Austrian government... will follow suit with the Hungarian government and say: 'Mea culpa. Mea maxima culpa.' [Through my fault, through my most grievous fault],' The Los Angeles Times reported.