Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-03-20
PAN-EUROPE MOVE
AIDED BY TREATY
Berlin and Vienna Effect
Customs Union-Seen
Helping BRAND Idea.
BY EDGAR ANSEL MOWRER.

BY Gable to The Star.
BERLIN, Germany, March 2o.-A
German-Austrian customs union, the
first great step in the realization OF
Pan-Europe, is now fully prepared by
two governments and will be announced
with all details in the near future.
This sensational scheme, which was
perfected during the recent visit OF
Foreign Minister Julius Curtius in
Vienna, has been a matter of long
study. The greatest secrecy is being
observed. but hints have been trickling
through the press the last few days and
today have reason to believe that the
entire scheme is perfected.
Others to Be Invited.
It will consist first of a customs union
between the two countries, realized
without violation of the war treaties.
But more important is the second idea,
namely, an invitation addressed to all
other European States to negotiate a
similar arrangement. The Deutsche
VolksWirt. the best German economic
weekly, states that special plea to
enter a common customs territory with
similar duties will be extended not only
to the Agrarian States of Eastern and
Southern Europe, but also to the in
duStraliZed States of the West.
1t is considered here that not the
slightest objection can possibly be
raised by State which has taken the
lead in proclaiming the need for an
economically united Europe. 1t Is OBJ
vious that just at this moment of eco
nomic depression, the constitution Of
greater European economic and terri
torial units on the United States model
can be calculated somewhat to reduce
the pressure and better conditions.
Minimize Objections.
The idea, already expressed today in
the Paris newspaper, Midi, that this
scheme is a German plot to reconquer
Southeastern Europe and organize it
against the west certainly does not
seem to fit the impression here. 1t is
possible, indeed probable, that a state
like Czechoslovakia may object. But
the Germans claim that while other
states have talked about pan-Europe,
they really have gone ahead and carried
out something creative-the first step
to organize the continent.
Such a Europe, with fewer customs
barriers, may hope to eliminate the
present stupid maladjustment and So
called overproduction, stave of economic
decline and maintain a living standard
for its inhabitants, and thus become
a better customer for both the United
States and the British commonwealth
of nations.
There is not the slightest doubt but
that the political and economic roper
cussion Of this action will be enormous
that it will be both criticized and
praised, that it will be considered as
directed for and against the Soviet
Union, the little entente, or the Western
states. according to the writer's ma
tionality.
1t can be safely said that efforts may
be made to induce Hungary and Ru-
mania to join and it is no accident that
German Rumanian negotiations are be-
ing carried out in Vienna. The answer
here to all such statements Is simply
that the present customs union, which
it is hoped will merely be the first
step even greater European continental
unity, is simply an act OF common sense
long overdue.
Copyright, 1917