The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-05-24
The Future OF Vienna.

Upon the terms Of peace about to be
submitted to the Austrian delegates
ut Saint Germaln must in a large
measure depend the future of Vienna,
which its Inhabitants were once so
fond Of referring to as the imperial
capital Of central Europe. The for
nation Of new States from Austrian
territory leaves Vienna shorn of Its
former chief sources of supplies, and
with the crumbling Of the Hapsburg
dynasty there pass into history and
tradition the exclusiveness and the
rigid formalltles Of Its court, which
had in the past been distinguishing
marks of Its social life. Most Eu-
ropean cities stand a chance Of re-
covering much of their former pres
tige, but Vienna can scarcely be ex-
pected to be restored to Its former
position. 1t must In its advanced age
make q new start.
Vienna represents a large part Of
the population of new Austria; 1t will
be, in fact, an enormously big head
for a rather attenuated body. The
city was to a certain extent a manu-
featuring centre; its manufactures,
however, we're confined mostly to ar
ticles which were characterized by
skill or artistic merit. The raw ma
terials were drawn not from German
Austrian territory but from Bohe-
mia, Gallcia, Sllesia and Hungary,
which now are no longer at the beck
and call Of Vienna. Even in case Of
| agricultural products Austria cannot
depend upon her own territory. Aus
trla must thus fall back upon the new
Czecho- Slovakia, Jugo-Slavia and Po-
land for her supplies. The Danube
convention, which NJ. PIcHoN of the
French Ministry proposes, or some
similar arrangement with central or
southeastern European States which
has been offered by members of the
Peace Conference, may furnish a solu-
ton for Austria's pressing problem.
Vienna, though, will then be merely
an equal and not. as in the days Of
the empire, a favored beneficiary.
| There is, however, q place which
| Vienna in the past most successfully
filled. The beauty of the city,
its historical associations and in
teresting traditions, and the general
good nature and cheerfulness Of
the Viennese made 1t delight
full place to live in or to visit.
To this may be added its fondness for
art and music. Just before the war
Vienna was sending out to the world
the most successful and enjoyable
light operas; in the past 1t heard first
the works Of not only the great Aus
trian composers but also the most
distinguished Of the Bohemian. Po-
lish and Hungarian composers and
musicians. Its university, especially
the medical department, was famous
and drew students from all parts of
the world. In all of these respects II
held a higher position than Berlin or
any other German city. While its
art, music and learning were largely
under the patronage of the imperial
Hapsburgs, the real development was
due to the Viennese themselves. And
freed from the Hapsburg limitations
there is reason to believe that they
may reach a still higher attainment.
In commerce, industries and manu-.
features Vienna will find rivals in
Budapest, Prague, even, perhaps, In
Agram or Belgrade: but with the ira.
ditions of centuries back of It and the
natural aptitude Of its people Vienna
should continue not only to hold but
to improve its position as the centre
Of art, music and science In mid.
Europe.