Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1922-09-07
THE TRAGEDY OF AUSTRIA

THE present Austrian govern
l men finds itself in an impos-
sible condition. 1t cannot feed its
population. BY religion, by blood,
and by economic interest it wants
to become a part of Germany.
That would give it access to food
producing countries, to raw mate
rial for manufacturing, and to
ocean ports for shipping its ex-
ports and getting imports after it
got raw materials to manufacture.
Such national union is forbidden
by the treaty of Versailles. France
would never consent to it in any
event, because it would make Ger
many more powerful, and French
foreign policy is all bent toward
making Germany less powerful in
a military and political way in the
future. For that reason, France
I has backed the Little Entente"
so called, Poland, Rumania, Czecho-
Slavia. The latter has food-pro-
ducing areas in plenty and consid-
cradle resources in raw materials.
| Shut off from union with Germany
and hard driven because of her in
ability to feed her hungry citizens,
! Austria has moved toward Czecho-
Slavia with thought of joining
that new Slavic confederacy, even
though its population is racially
hostile to them. The Germans ir
| Austria must eat to live, and work
to eat. And here again they rur
against the absolute veto of Italy
Czecho- Slavia and Jugo Slavia are
not friendly to Italy. The italians
are not willing to see the Slav con
federacy strengthened by the add
ton of Austria, any more than the
French are willing to see Germany
strengthened by such addition OF
more power. The Italian sugges'
ton for the solution of the Aus
trian problem is that it become
subject province of Italy, gov
erned by the Duke of Aosta,
member of the Italian royal house
and come under the political pro
lection of Italy. And the Slav con
federacy would fight rather thar
see that done. Meantime, Austri;
s~tarves. All her neighbors hav'
put up heavy tariff bars agains
her. She cannot buy from then
because she has no money and sh'
cannot sell to them the little sh'
has to sell because of an embargo
tariff against her.
1t is a tough problem. 1t wa
to be discussed at the London con
ference to see what could be don
/ about it, but the London confer
ence never got round to discuss il
!. because Great Britain and Franc
| parted company on other matters
and the conference failed. 1t i
!, therefore to be brought up in tn
assembly of the League of Ma
tons, which is now meeting a
|. Geneva. All the tough problem
on which Europe cannot agre
seem to be finally tossed into tn
lap of the League of Nations TO
settlement, and, generally speak
|, ing, they have been successful. A
the present meeting they have jus
r elected a Chilean statesman a
I president and this has given gres
satisfaction to the South America
e republics. All this continent is nov
represented in League of Nations
4 except the United States and Me,
leo. The latter country will 500
d be represented in the League, W
{ are told. 1t is our conviction thu
this country VIII not long be al
SEN from the council chamber c
S the League, where a vacant chai
S still waits for it.
n We do not know how the Leagu
of Nations will attempt to solv
the Austrian problem. Clearly, til
best way to do it would be to l.
them join with Germany or, sti
better, with Bavaria, if that part {
Germany concludes to separa'
: from Prussia and the German
It union. AS the citizens of the ne
and curtailed Austria are all &c
mans and Catholics, Bavaria wou.
seem to be the country where the
would find themselves most
y home if they are to give up the
J. independence in order that the
may live. This cutting up Of o