Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-03-28
TARIFF COUP ST|RS
EUROPE TO DEPTHS
AuStro- German Customs Ac-
cord May Become Biggest
Issue of Decade.
Continued From First page.)

Continued From First Page.)
union in secret at the very moment
when all the powers were discussing
| openly French Foreign Minister Aris-
tide Brands scheme for a general Eu-
ropean union.
Legal Ban Is Sought.
Jurists are studying the st. German
| treaty, the 1922 protocol, Austria,s and
Germany'S various treaties of commerce
and even the League covenant to see
whether way cannot be found to
break the proposed union juridically.
But the principal action, when and
II 1t is taken, promises to be diplomatic
and to take the form Of political and
economic pressure, especially on Aus
tria, or even Of a proposal for some
alternative combinations.
British policy seems to be to gain
time. British opinion IS not averse to
an Austro-German union, but the Bit
list government Is irritated by the
Austro- German methods.
It feels hurt that it was not con-
suited. It feels, further, that the step
is most inopportune and that it bids
fair to undo the work of European
reconciliation painfully accomplished
in the Italian naval agreement.
The success Of the great disarmament
conference to be held next year Is al
ready jeopardized, Great Britain fears.
French Are Cautious.
France would like to prevent an
Austro- German union, but it apparently
intends to 60 slow and work carefully
with the other powers in the matter.
As for Italy, 1t mas not yet declared
itself. The fact that Italian Foreign
Minister Dino Grand did not come to
Paris last Monday to confer with M.
BRAND and British Foreign Minister
Arthur Henderson, Is interpreted to
mean that Italy has not yet made up its
own mind.
Italy,s ally in Central Europe is
Hungary. The Hungarian Foreign Min
lister, Count julius Karolyi, Is now in
Rome. One rumor says that Italy and
Hungary are contemplating joining Ger
many and Austria. Another says that
Italy may try to form an economic
union of its own with Hungary and
Poland.
Little Entente Concerned.
M. Benes, Czech foreign minister, Is
endeavoring desperately to get the Little
Entente, consisting of CzechoSlovalLia,
Rumania and Jugoslavia, to adopt q
common policy against the Austro-
German union. M. BeneS has been try
ing for years to form Danube fedora
ton Of Czechoslovakia, Austria, Jugo-
slavia, Hungary and Rumania, thus
effectively blocking the Germanic drive
southeaStward.
Germany, Italy, and TO some extent
Great Britain, have always opposed.
italy long has been endeavoring to dis
sociate the Little Entente because this
entente Is virtually allied to France.
So has Germany.
Rumania and JugoSlavia, however, as
agricultural countries. are much inter-
ested in the German food market They
seem disinclined to act hastily against
the Austro- German union.
The whole of Central Europe thus for
the moment appears TO be in q state of
complete uncertainty.
German Motives Analysed.
Most diplomats seem to believe that
while the AuStro-G German union has
long been contemplated in one form or
another. Germany chose the present
moment for two reasons: First, the
Bruening government wished to prove
to German extremists its vigor and in
dependence in foreign policy, and, Sec
ond, Germany feared isolation in the
forthcoming disarmament conference
as result of the Italo- French British
naval agreement and felt the need,
therefore, Of doing something strong
and positive.
As rapprochement with Germany Is
still the main objective of M. Brands
foreign policy, 1t Is possible that the
French statesman may yet find a way
to turn the situation to his own uses.
Time alone can tell.
Meanwhile Americans who wonder
why two countries which wish to unite
have not complete right to do so are
reminded that Europe for q long time
has regarded itself as q sort of political
unit, in which major changes anywhere
AFFECT everybody. For example, a
Franco-Belgian economic union fore
shadowing a possible political union
would undoubtedly draw instant pro-
tests from Germany and Great Britain,
which would claim that France and
Belgium were thus upsetting the deli
cately adjusted balance of power. It is
precisely similar considerations on the
part Of the neighbors Of Austria and
Germany which are causing the present
disturbance.
(copyright, 1881