Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-04-03
German and Austrian Right
To Trade Pact Made Issue

European opposition to the proposed
customs union Of Germany and Austria
is studied in this country as evidence
Of possible step toward conditions that
existed before the World War, but there
Is strong tendency to feel that, in the
absence of political union, the move is
logical and should lead 70 the extension
of such agreements.
Opposition is likely to arouse many
Germans and Austrians, who otherwise
would be Indifferent to their. republics
political union" thinks the San An
tonic Express adding that "if undis-
turbed by outsiders, the two countries
doubtless will cling to their respective
standards and remain content with a
customs agreement along purely eco
non1ic lines" The Port Huron Times
Herald remarks: THE trouble seems TO
be that Germany and Austria got to-
gether and made the agreement too cas-
lily. There wasn't enough diplomacy
and objection and refuSalS and ulti-
matums and compromises to make 1t
seem like anything else than a conspir-
acy against the rest of Europe. What
seems to be needed more than anything
else over there is confidence in ones
national neighbors"
THE outcry in nations that were
allied against Germany during the war"
according to the Toronto (Ontario) Daily
Star, lis natural but overdone. France
Is at present engaged in an effort to
form the whole of Europe into a Gus
toms union as the best means of meet
ing present economic conditions. IN
der such union, no customs duties
would be collected on goods passing
through Germany and Austria. The
proposed Austro- German customs union
therefore, may be said to be the first
practical step toward the larger pro-
posal." That paper also feels that "the
unbiased observer probably will be dis
posed to think that ultimately and in
evitably a customs union and political
union between Germany and Austria
will be conSummated. Nor does 1t neces-
sarily follow that such a development
would be inimical to the interests of
humanity"
Germany seems to have pushed
Aristide BRAND out of the spotlight"
says the Seattle Daily Times, land to
have done so by means placed in its
hands by that advocate of united
continent BRAND said, Let's form q
United States of Europe Germany
said, All right, let's begin and did
begin by announcing an economic union
with Austria and inviting other nations
10 JOIN CIle movement. Inc new
union may hasten the formation of the
United States of Europe or it may so
upset the equilibrium as to retard or
make impossible the contamination of
that ideal. No one is wise enough to
foretell the outcome"
There are other European states
which would profit tremendously by fol-
lowing their lead" advises the Cleve-
land Plain Dealer, while the Newark
Evening News holds that 1.-The Austro-
German accord holds promise of a be-
ginning" in the task of "unifying Eu- |
rope" and that at has possibilities or
becoming one of the irresistible develop |
ments along the road to progress to |
which other nations will have to adjust
themselves" The Salt Lake Deseret
News contends that 1.-THE independence |
of Austria, which is stipulated and safe |
guarded by the treaty of Versailles, I'm
plies that she has unquestionable right |
to make such trade agreement as she |
has now entered into with Germany. |
The fact of the matter is that these |
two nations have acted while others |
have been waiting and debating"
Claims of both sides would be dds |
by the Hamilton (Ontario) |
Spectator, which concludes: THE agree |
ment, If it goes through. puts Germany |
in a stronger position with respect to |
leading to the proposed |
United States Of Europe. It may facili- |