Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-09-13
BY FRANK II. SIMONDS.

TN He collapse of the German
Austrian tariff union project,
which is the outstanding cir
Il cumstance of the recent Geneva
session. marks the end of the
most striking diplomatic struggle CT the
postwar period.
In its general character this Anschluss
affair. to give it the name most familiar
in Europe, strongly resembles each OF
the several pre-War clashes between
Berlin and Paris, which began with the
Tangier episode in 1905 and cGtmi-
mated in the crisis ushering in the
World War. In many respects the
Anschluss incident recalls the Tangier
crisis. French policy in Morocco in
1905 was accepted as a challenge. to
German position in Europe. 1t was
met by the Kaiser's dramatic landing
in the Moroccan port. The resulting
acute tension in Europe ended only with
the practical reputation by the French
government of its foreign minister
Delcasse France suffered in this a
diplomatic disaster of unparalleled pro-
portions.
The disaster to Germany and the
personal humiliation of Curtius in the
AnSchluSS incident are almost identical
with the results TO France from Tangier
The AuStro-German agreement called
the whole French position in postwar
Europe into question. Had the tariff
union been conSummated the French
system of alliances would have been
compromised and the German cam
paign for revision of territorial clauses
of the peace treaties would have made
far-reaching progress.
France Demonstrates Power.
As it is. France has again demon
episode, but this time by reason of her
financial and not her military strength.
In recent days bcth Austria and Hun
eary have been obliged to make appli-
cation at Paris for financial aid. The
Hungarian course has been followed by
the resignation of Count Bethlen, who
directed the foreign policy of his
country more than 10 years. Bethlen
had been a champion of Magyar
Italian partnership and the scrapping
of his policy forced him out.
The financial collapse of Germany
and the equally far-reaching. but less
disastrous. crisis in Great Britain had
their foundation in the general I'M
rest provoked by the Anschluss affair.
German finance could not stand the
strain. and three months after CurtiuS
had launched his great project he and
the German chancellor were in Paris
asking financial terms.
The net result of the whole episode,
of course. is an enormous victory for
France and her Polish and Czech
allies, who support the status quo of
the treaties. The Anschluss project is
adjourned Indefinitely. and Germany
must now abandon any present hope
of bringing about any revision of her
eastern frontiers and the abolition Of
the Polish corridor. In fact, her f1nan-
cial plight precludes her undertaking
any considerable adventure in foreign
affairs for long time to come.
What remains to be disclosed is
whether, as after the occupation of
the Ruhr, the disclosure of German
weakness will be followed by an intelli-
gent appreciation of the realities with
in the Reich and a change from a
policy of resistance to one of co-opera-
ton. 1t was Stresemann who was re-
sponsible for the change in 1924 and
it led to the Locarno pacts, to a truce
between Berlin and Paris lasting near
ly five years, and to an equal period of
tranquility and recuperation for all
Europe. The death of Stresemann and
the rise of the National Socialist move
ment in Germany ended the truce: the
struggle over the Anschluss was the
elimination of the new German policy.
Must Pay for New LocarnO.
Bruening can now seek a new Lo-
carno in Paris But he will be COM
PEELED to pay for it by a recognition
of the eastern frontiers of Germany
and a remuneration of the AnSchluss
with Austria wholly parallel to the re-
nunciation of all claims upon Alsace-
Lorraine which was the basis of the