Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-05-18
Henderson's Move for Test
of Legality Approved
at Geneva.
INTEGRITY OF AUSTRIA
is BACKED BY SCHOBER
Denies Threat to Most Favored
Nations Clause, Secret Deal and
Economic Surrender.
ny the Associated Press.

ny the Associated Press.
GENEVA, May 13-Germany and
Austria, France, Great Britain and
Italy today agreed to submit the pro-
posed Austro-German customs accord
to the World Court at the Hague for
an advisory opinion as to its legality.
Arthur Henderson, British foreign
secretary, proposed the move pointing
out that legality of the accord was
questioned under the treaty of st.
German and the Geneva protocol of
1922.
DR.. Johann Schober. Austria's gray
haired foreign minister, agreed to the
proposals, but placed a spirited defense
of Austria's integrity on the record.
He denied the French charge that
his country was violating the Geneva
protocol guaranteeing Austrian politi-
cal independence when she negotiated
with Germany for the projected union.
He denied also that the AuStro-G German
arrangement threatened the most
favored nations clause, and he denied
that the negotiations had been con-
Quoted in secret.
The projected treaty. he said. does
not leave it to Germany to regulate
the economic policies of the two con-
tracing states, for the respective parli-
aments retain equal authority to ar
range customs agreements with other
nations. Throughout their negotia-
tons, he declared, Germany and Aus
tria had constantly in mind both the
Geneva protocol and the st German
Treaty.
II must declare strongly" he said,
shat our announcement that this
agreement was constructed upon an
exactly equal footing of both Mathis
must be taken seriously. Austria will
by no means surrender her economic
independence.
IF the powers are so greatly con-
cerned over this matter as to infringe
Austria's sovereign right to negotiate
treaties. then indeed is our economic
independence destroyed"
The two Germanic states agreed also
to go no further with their negotiations
pending the World Court decision,
which Is expected some Time during the
Summer. before the Council meets
again In September.
BRAND Reafiirms Objections.
Aristide BRAND agreed for France to
submit the issue to the World Court,
but he reafiirmed his country's objec-
tons to the union on the ground that
it compromised Austria's economic
freedom and violated the two treaties.
He emphasized that the League
Council guardian of Austria's inde-
pendence, knew nothing of the customs
accord until it was an accomplished
fact and he quoted the Great Austrian
statesman, Prince Metternich, "A ma
ton cannot maintain its independence
If it forms too close relations with
ancther."
Dino Grand, the Italian foreign
minister, agreed for his nation, assert
ting that it is not always possible to
distinguish between political and eco
I1ornic elements. Italian economists, he
said, are not convincted that the Gus
toms union system is the best for the
rehabilitation of Europe.
julius Curtius, for Germany, defend
ing his own position, reiterated that
the arrangement does not threaten
Austria's independence, but pledged
Germany TO Mr.. Eenderscn's propo-al.
The Council Of the League later in
the current session will attempt to
name president for the approaching
world disarmament conference. Hender-
son appears to be the more general
selection for the post, which informed
quarters said that he was not seeking
because Of the pressure Of other duties,
but would accept If the League states
men really want him.