New-York tribune., 1920-10-05
Allies to Veto
Austrian Union
With Germany
Strong Measures Predicted
to Enforce Treaties if
Proposed Plebiscite De-
cides in Favor of Plan
Vote Opposed by France
Belief Prevails That Test
Would Result in Deci.
sion Favoring Coalition

PARIS. Oct. 4.-'Important meas
ures" are to be taken to enforce the
terms of the treaties with Germany
and Austria and prevent a union be-
tween those nations, should the pro-
posed Austrian plebiscite decide in
favor of the project, according to the
Foreign Office to-day.
(The Austrian National Assembly
on October I, adopted unanimously a
motion calling on the government to
carry out within six weeks a plebiscite
on the union of Austria with Ger
many)
Meanwhile, it is understood. no ac
tion will be taken with a view to pre-
venting the holding of the plebiscitc
until views are exchanged between
France, Great Britain and Italy to de-
termine whether such a plebiscite
comes under the ban of the treaties.
Both Article so of the Versailles
Treaty and Article SO of the St. Ger
main treaty provided that Austria's
independence shall be inalienable ex-
cept with the consent of the council
OF the League of Nations" and Ger
many is obligated to respect Austria's s
boundaries as defined in the peace
treaty. There has been no suggestion. it
is pointed out, that the League of Ma
tlons would approve union of Austria
and Germany.
Article 88 Of the st. Germain treaty
also says austria obligates herself to
abstain, unless with the consent of the
council Of the league, from any act
tending to compromise her independ-
ence directly or Indirectly" and par
tlcularly "by participation in the af-
fairs of another power" Unofficially
it is suggested this clause might be
interpreted to forbid the plebscite,
and prevention of the plsbscite is de-
clared to be duty, both in the in
terests of the Allies and Austria
French public and official opinion is
strongly opposed to the plebscite, and
the hope has been expressed that pub
lie opinion of other countries NAV
action of any sort has yet been taken.
it is expected the problem will be
brought before the Council of Ambas-
sadors in some manner.
VIENNA, Oct. 3.-The hostile reac-
tion of France to the proposed Aus
trian plebiscite on fusion with Ger
many, as reflected in Paris dispatches,
was not unexpected here. The Aus
trlan government all along has pro-
fessed to have information that France
was opposed to such a move, but that
she was alone in her opposition, the
United States and Great Britain be-
ing indifferent, while Italy was ac-
tually desirous Of its accomplishment.
The passage Of the plebiscite rcso-
luton by the National Assembly had
the effect of creating q country wide
but hitherto somewhat formless agj-
tatlon for union with Germany. 1t
has two distinct groups of supporters.
one based on real pan Germanism
and the other on economic grounds
through the conviction that the coun-
try cannot survive as an independent
state.
Along with this, however. is another
agitation for fusion with Bavaria. in
volving the secession of that country
from Germany and probably with the
Catholic Rhineland, and the eventual
creation of a Catholic German state
Adriatic Agreement in Sight
BERNE, Oct. 4-Italy and Jugo-
Slavia, it is reported here, will open
direct negotiations in Switzerland ut
an early date with a view to reachinp
a definite settlement of the Adriatic
question.