Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-07-31
VIENNA IS FERTILE FIELD
FOR REDS, SIMONDS SAYS
Observer Declares Spark of Revolution
Might Easily Flare Up in Capital
of Austria.

trian situation.
Nor would it be quite accurate Ia
assume that there IL unanimity in
Germany over Anschluss. While the
union OF the separated fractions OF
the German race is forbidden by for.
elgn will, there is common protest In
ali German quarters, and the right Of
Standardization is frequently in.
voked. But in reality, while all the
Republican and Liberal elements ara
vigorous champions of the union, Ma.
tlonaltsts and Monarchists are in Sc
cret far from enthusiastic. The rea-
son Is simple. Today in Germany the
Nationalist and Republican parties are
fairly evenly divided A state Of bal.
ance exists which at least enables the
Monarchists TO cling to the hope Of q
later restoration of the empire.
Vienna Not Monarchist.
But there is no Monarchist sympa.
thy or party in Vienna. In the event
OF the union with Germany, both the
Socialists and the Christian Socialists,
the two considerable political parties,
would reinforce the Republicans OF
the Reich. The Socialists would foin
the Social Democrats, the Christian
Socialists would probably fuse with
the Catholic Centrum. Then the dead.
lock In Germany would be broken.
the Republicans would be decisively in
the majority. Again, not only are the
Austrians republicans. but they have
no sort OF loyalty. present or past, to
the Hohenzollerns. Thus for the Prus-
slams, already blocked by Bavarian
loyalty to their own dynasty, the ap-
pearance of Austria would constitute
new obstacle
Thus the union Of Austria with Ger.
many might easily insure the perma.
hence of the German Republic. But
would this necessarily insure Euro
pean stability or peace? Would not
the strengthened Germany turn iney.
ltaDIy to the restoration Of it's eastern
frontier at the expense of Poland, to
the aid OF its German minorities in
Czechoslovakia? Would not the new
Germany, in fact, economically at
first, politically later, undertake. the
domination Of all of central Europe.
OF Europe itself, in due course of
time?
mere is the supreme problem which
Is troubling all Europe today. Austria.
IS the keystone of the Europe created
at Paris. Were Austria to disappear
as a separate state, the whole situa.
tlon on the continent would be reyolu.
tlonlzed. Germany, with 10000, 900
or people, larger than any country
save Russia, would be launched once
more on a career of greatness for
which there is today no apparent
limit. France. Poland. Rnnania
Czechoslovakia, Jugoslavia would he
menaced and would feel themselves
menaced. Italy would be threatened
at home and see the end of all the ef.
Tort to build up a Balkan influence
winch is the keystone of the Fascist
foreign policy.
Austria must live, must be indie.
pendent" thus most of Europe de.
clares, not because of sympathy with
Austria, but for precisely the same rea-
sons which for so long dictated a pol.
icy of the preservation of the status
quo in the Balkans before 1912. But
now can Austria be made to live? The
country consists of a vast mountain
area, thinly populated, mainly given
over to rather difficult agriculture,
and one vast city with all the ma.
chlnery to supply a country of 5O,-
oOO,0O0. the banking center, the dis
tributing center of an empire confined
TO the limits of a country smaller and
poorer than many of our States.
Socialists In Majority.
This city of Vienna, too, is wholly
of the people have paid no rent since
the war. All the revenues of the city
are directed to satisfy the demands OF
the masses. To live the city and the
country must buy abroad more than
they can sell. Poverty is general,
even political control and legislative
activity have not given the masses
prosperity or even decent living con-
ditions.
AS a consequence Vienna remains A.
source of danger always. Nothing is
easier than for Russian agents to
preach the red doctrine. 1t is true
that the vast mass of the Socialist
party, here as in most of Europe, has
no real aff1liation with Moscow. Is
sympathy. But here, as in every coun-
try where there is Communist party
which takes all its orders from the
Russians, it is always a danger. 1t
seeks always 10 promote that revolu-
ton which Is the end and aim of Rus
STA and all Soviet allies.
Thus, while Europe has potent rea-
sons for not wishing to see Vienna
become subordinate to Berlin, it has
quite as strong reasons for seeking to
prevent the domination of Moscow in
the ancient realm of the Hapsburgs.
And there is the dilemma. An indie
TO live. may easily sink to anarchy.
But short of union with Germany, how
is it possible to find any solution for
the Austrian economic and financial
difficulties? All efforts to create some
sort of economic solidarity between
Austria and the succession states
breaks down alike because of the hos
tility of these states and the interior
ence of Italy, which sees in such o
program the rough sketch of a re.
stored Austrian state.
SO far, then, the Austrian problem
has proved insoluble and periodically
returns to plague European states
men. Moreover, union with Germany
becomes increasingly inevitable. Every.
thing which tends to confirm the no.
ton, both abroad and at home, that
Austria cannot live alone makes for
Anschluss. The present riots un.
doubtedly have had this effect. Io.
cally the danger is over. The Aus
trlan Government has conquered, and
in the end shown firmness and cours
age. Order and peace have been re-
stored. But this is only a temporary
accommodation. Europe has one more
chance to seek solution for it's great.
est problem solution outside the
German union. But does such a solu-
ton exist? Vienna, Berlin-in fact,
most European capitals-do not be-
lieve it. For Austria, union with
Germany is politically impossible, but
Austrian independence is economically,
out of the question
copyright. 1927