The Washington herald., 1916-07-16
Smaller Countries May Be
Forced Into Taking Sides
in Commercial Battle to
Ensue,

the cry that they are engaged In a de-
fensive war against a coalition which
envied their prosperity and begrudged
their future"
Turning from the allied conference and
the plans II has endorsed, an exanina-
tfon of the German zollverein shows the
same plan expressed privately in almost
the same language, although no official
program has yet been announced. These
are tremendous difficulties In the way Of
carrying out the economic war. The al
lies are wrestling with the question of
tariffs between one another, and between
the Dominions and Great Britain; in
central Europe the main difficulty lies in
the jealousy and fear Of Germany felt
by Hungary and, to lesser extent, Aus
tria.
Many conferences have been held be-
tween the statesmen OF Vienna, Buda-
pest, and Berlin, and so far as is known
here no agreement has been arrived at,
though the program of the Paris con-
ference is almost certain to overcome
the scruples of the less powerful allies
of Germany.
Hungarian Feeling Bitter.
Hungarian feeling toward the zolfver-
Elm is most bitter, but Germany has one
supporter there, the most powerful man
in the kingdom, Count Tisza. He has
staked his political career and the ex-
istence of his government on the zoll-
verein. His opponents contend that
Germany. as the most powerful member
of the alliance, will gain political control
where she has the economic power. and
will stamp out the Magyar ascendency
The average Magyar likes Prussian
about as well as an Armenian likes a
TurR, so the situation is not a simple
one The Hungarians also object to free
trade between the central powers, claim
ing that their infant industries, and in
dutries yet unborn. must have protec-
ton from Prussian dumping.
The Jealousies between Berlin and Vi
emma about the control Of the Balkans
have also delayed economic negotiations.
The Austrians and Hungarians feel Bit
terly that Berlin Is using the control OF
the route to Constantinople for the sole
advantage of Prussia.
Yelled Complaints Made.
Yelled complaints in the newspapers
and loud protests in the Hungarian par
Lament have been made for months
against the overbearing Prussians. but
the logic of events has been bringing the
disputants nearer together since the
manifestations in Hungary last autumn
against the zollverein, which were so
strong thdt Cne Germans were 1OTCe0 10
withdraw temporarily the scheme from
public attention. The critical point at
the moment is the commercial treaty
between Austria and Hungary. which is
just lapsing. Germany wants It renewed
for twenty years or more, instead Of the
usual seven years, arguing that zoll-
verein would be worthless II broken up
in seven years by internal treaties. Most
Hungarians oppose the long term treaty
with Austria, but Count Tisza favors It,
and the Kaiser has a trump card, even
II TisZa Is ousted from the premiership.
Franz Joseph, King OF Hungary as well
as Austrian Emperor, has the power to
promulgate the treaty over the heads OF
his subject parliaments, and German
writer's claim he viii do so, II necessary.
Germany does not intend to confine
her economic war to laws and tariffs. At
great central Europe congress held
last week at Munich. plans were ratified
trade inside the zollverein, and make
the central powers, In the words of Prof.
Oelwein, of Vienna, independent Of the
British sea power, and give them access
to markets hitherto controlled by British
sea power" The three main arteries OF
the great canal system are to be:
A central canal connecting all the navi-
gable streams, from the Rhine to the
Vistula. which flow into the North Sea
and the Baltic.
A Danube-Oder canal atrording navi-
gable connection Of the North Sea and
Baltic ports with the Danube and the
Black Sea
Canalization Of the Main, and a new
Ludwig canal. connecting the Rhine with
the Danube and the Black Sea-