New-York tribune., 1918-12-02

VIENNA, Nov 30 (By The Associated
Press).-Dr. Alfred Treichl, managing
director Of the Anglo Austrian Bank,
which has a working capital of $780,
100000 and branches throughout the
former Austrian empire, in an inter
view to-day with The Associated Press,
said
"The biggest question the world is
now facing is whether the free trade
or the high tariff principle shall be
applied between the nations. And, in
particular, what the United States will
do in this respect. On this question
depends certainly the economic pros
perity of the former Central Empires
and possibly their political happiness.
The dimensions of the war certainly
have been too great for Austria. We
are overloaded with war debts, though
IT must be remembered they are largely
internal, with two or three billion
crowns owed to Germany and also small
loans obtained in the United States Ibe-
tore that country ceased its neutrality
Republics to Share Debt
owe have amon.; ourselves merely
exchanged materials for paper money,
notes and bonds. One problem we are
facing is for each of the new Republics
to make up its accounts and divide the
war debts so that each will know where
it stands.
"Never in history, however, has any
enterprising people been crushed by
debts. If we can produce we can pay
back all our debts in ten years. But
the great difficulty is how to start pro-
duction.
What we need in Austria first is
food so that we can keep order and
then raw materials, which are in the
hands of our former enemies, for
manufacturing.
"The important point is, Will the
against loan? | say the United States
because it has copper and cotton and
nobody on earth can do business with
out American cotton. Possibly South
America could sell us wool, but doubt
exists If it will be able to sell on time.
Seeks Financial Aid
Financial help for the former
Central Empires must come from the
glo-Americans. They are the only
nations able to furnish aid of this
kind, as France no longer is in the
position of money lender to other coun-
tries.
ut must be understood that the
riches of any country are not in the
gold reserve, of which we possibly
possess a quarter of billion crowns,
but in its production capacity
speaking from continental point
America will continue to sell raw prod
ucts. Since the war she has increased
the number of her factories. Now,
will she insist on selling finished prod
ucts to US? If so that will be the
cause of still greater continental
crisis.
'If the United States and the Allies
wish to prevent such an economic
crisis, leading to political ones, too, it
Will be necessary to give us the means
of production. If you imprison your
and pay.
Proposes Solution
"The Peace Conference should ar
range first to pay our debts outstand-
ing abroad, later collecting from US,
and second, should provide us with
financial means and give us raw ma
terials
These terms apply to the former
Austrian Empire. As regards the Ger
man republics and their war indem-
mites, they are richer than are we.
They also hold more foreign stocks and
bonds.
"Regarding the political future Of the
republics Of the former Austrian EN-
plre, do not believe they will get to-
gether for many years, though their
economic relations would be greatly i'm
proved by common money standard
such as exists between France, Italy
and Switzerland and also by free trade.
Europe must have free trade, since
she is bigger buyer than a seller, but
She cannot have it unless the United