Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-03-23
Customs Upion Planned With
Germany Urged for All
European Nations.
FRANCE BACKS BRAND
IN PROBE OF PROPOSAL
British Position Underlined on Eve
of Meeting of Committee on
Economic Federation.
ny the Associated Press.

~ the Associated Press.
VIENNA, March 23.-Austria today
answered protests against her proposed
customs union with Germany with an
invitation to other European countries
to join them in an abolition OF customs
barriers.
A formal protest by diplomatic rep
resentatives of France, italy and
Czechoslovakia drew from DR.. Johann
Schober. foreign minister and vice
chancellor. the word that Germany and
Austria had no intention of concluding
any treaty which excluded the other
powers.
On the contrary, he said, both have
invited any other European state-all
European states-to join the projected
customs union, so as gradually to ex-
tend it to embrace all European coun-
tries.
Believes BRAND Approves.
He declared also that Austria felt
more encouraged to embark on the Gus
toms arrangement with Germany since
she was conscious that the plan had
the approval both of Aristide BRAND,
French foreign minister and author of
an ambitious pan-European scheme,
and Of the League Of Nations.
The protest of the three countries
against the customs union project,
which they based upon an allegation
that the union would impair and COM
promise Austria's pledged independence,
aroused considerable bitter feeling in
this country The comment was made
that it had been logical to hope that
any honest effort to overcome the eco
nomic depression Of European states,
no matter by whom inaugurated, would
receive encouragement.
Oficial information of The contem-
plated union took the Austrian COM
rnercial world entirely by surprise since
German competition was an element
greatly feared I'm Austria. Fears have
been somewhat ailayed by Information
that existing duties on Austrian weak
industrial products viii remain In force
for many years. The union is described
as only a nominal one designed to slim
uiate neighboring countries to embark
upon so-called regional preferential
treaties.
Denies Treaty Impairment.
DR.. Schober's comment IS that the
plan is still only in project form re-
curing long negotiations. because Of
which it is too early for outsiders to be-
come alarmed or TO protest. He told
the diplomats who visited him yesterday
that the scheme would not infringe
upon the Geneva treaty obligations and
that he hoped they would recognize this
and withdraw their protests to allow a
calm perusal Of the project.
The diplomatic representatives Of the
three countries in Sunday call upon
Or. Schober informed him that their
governments wished to remind Austria
that the conclusion of such a union
would infringe the Geneva protocol OF
October 4. 1922.
This protocol is that which Austria,
obtaining a loan from the former allied
countries, reiterated It's support Of the
treaty Of St. German between Austria
and the allies to preserve and guard
zealously its independence.
May Torpedo Agreement.
The demarche of the three govern
ments was regarded in some circles as
an effort on their part to torpedo the
agreement with Germany, which was
announced here and at Berlin Saturday.
tt was understood that under its terms,
which are subject to ratification by the
German and Austrian Parliaments, all
customs barriers between Austria and
Germany viii be removed.
Although the projected pact was an
nounced at Berlin with the comment
that 1t was expected TO lead the way TO
other pan-European agreements, dis
patches from Paris state there is con-
siderable resentment there and that it
Is regarded as both evasion of the spirit
Of the peace treaties and as a blow at
the BRAND European economic union
scheme.
RRIANn INQUIRY AppRONEn