The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-02-08
VORARLBERG RICHES ]. MAKE II SOUGHT
 BY RIVAL NATIONS
Unlimited Water Power, Timber and Strategic Po- sition Excite Switzer-
 land and Germany
py JULIAN GRANpE

Berne. Switzerland, December SO.- (Special.A Vorarlberg. province of Austria, which borders on Eastern Switzerland wants to leave the sink ing Austrian ship and either join Switzerland as twenty third canton of the Swiss republic or be a kind of small prncipalty, like Lux emburg, under Swiss protection.
 The population of Vorarlberg is about 10000. composed mostly of poor peasantry but the country, although tile, is of considerable importance for three reasons: First. it has almost un- limited undeveloped waterpower- white coal" as it is called in Europe which, of course could be utilized for electrical purposes. Secondly, 1t has many forests. with plenty of ex- cellent timber; and, third, its strategic position, lying, as 1t does between Ger many and Austria. isi very important.
 In the treaty of St. Germain, between the allies and Austria, the Vorarlberg
 is considered as part of the Austrian republic, and, consequently, its people are bound to fulfill their share of the obligations devolving upon Austrian subjects generally. At present, there fore, the Vorarlberg's debt would amount, it is calculated. to 10000 kronen per head of populatlon--tha is, to 1,500, 0,000,000 kronen. There is also paper money circulation of about 1000 kronen per head of population. One hundred Austrian kronen may be bought now in Switzerland for about 2,50 francs (50 cents at normal ex change rate). or even less In other words, Austrian paper money is liter ally hardly worth the paper on which it is printed.
 As for gold. the Vorarlberg has none. just as it has no credit. Part of the Austrian State railways. it fs true, run within this province. but they arc in~very bad condition. all the rolling stock and carriages being in need of repair or replacement. and the annual deficit on tho Vorarlberg DOT tion would hardly amount to less than 10, 900. .000 kronen. The postal. tele graph and telephone services do not pay either, the population being back ward and not using these much; and, moreover. these also are in ruinous state Finally. there is big sum to be paid annually to invalid soldiers and soldiers widows and orphans for the Vorarlberg despite its small pop ulation, contributed 30.p0o soldiers to the armies of the double faced Aus tria- Hungarian monarchy.
 It might be thought that province in such 2. wretched state would have no at
 fractions for sny one Yet GermdnS, Swiss and Austrians are all sduabbling about this ore small piece of territory Austria. of course. is at present it's law full owner. if ony one is; but Germany woul like to take it over, with the whole Of Austria. while Switzerland would prefer that she herself should possess it.
 And if Austria is really ultimately to form part of great Austro-German con- federation. then it might be better for Europe and the world that this small wooded corner of Austria should he joined to the Swiss confederation. On the other hand if Austria is to remain separate republic. to denrve her of the Vorarlbers' woul, he to deprive her of some of her few real assets.
 Judging from the bitter tone of the German press and it's uncomplimentary references to Switzerland, 1t would seem that Germany does expect all Austria one day to join her. The Germans accuse the Swiss of surfeptitiously endeavorinS by means of dligent propaganda, to in-