Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-05-12

as the chief cause OF the general eco
nomic crisis. Pan Europa as a move
ment came into being and the pan
European Conference, held during Sep
TENDER OF last year, was awaited with
the greatest hope.
Unable to Reach Accord.
The speeches delivered at this con-
ference were for the greater part COM
plants that the efforts made so far
by the League of Nations had not sue
ceeded In coping with the economic
crisis In any way. Quite clearly 1t was
revealed that at the moment 1t was
impossible to bring all OF the ~ Euro
pean countries into a customs and gen.
eral economic corporation.
AS had not gone to Geneva 70
return from this conference With re-
suits OF only a negative kind, ] felt
obliged then and there to bring about
some positive action for whatever help
that lay within the realm OF the
possible.
put forward. therefore. the proposal
that en- attempt should first be made
to bring together these countries which
were already prepared for and whose
business life especially demanded such
a complementary move.
This proposal was favorably received
on all sides and was recognized as open
ing up the only feasible way by which
the economic chaos could be diSpelled.
BY putting it forward meant nothing
more or less than to recall to mind the
appeal made by the League to Austria's
neighborS in 1925 and to test whether
or not Austria's neighbors were more
ready to consider economic cooperation
now that the trade crisis had gripped all
of Europe.
Negotiated With Nelghbors.
We decided to enter into negotiations
along this line with all of our neighbors,
who, in respect Of our economic re-
quirements, came into consideration for
q scheme OF regional cooperation in
Central Europe'S business life,
The identity of my proposal with the
leagues 1925 recommendation entitled
US to this: and the favorable reception
which the league gave to my proposal
induced me to make the following state
ment with regard to our further action:
To-day We are negotiating commercial
treaties with all cur neighbors; and
have no doubt that with time this will
lead to q real customs union. We shall
work for the realization Of Brands
pan-Elropa project to the limit of our
means, starting it in that part of Europe
which we consider as our sphere of
interest"
AS DR.. Curtius had already declared
at Geneva that he was ready to begin
negotiations in this sense, we ap-
preached the German government first
Of all; and SO the basis for a customs
and economic equalization between
Germany and Austria first came about.
Reasons Purely Economic.
This "Angleichung" was not made as
the frame of an agreement limited to
these two states and against any other
state or states, but as the ground plan
for the elimination of tariff walls and
for the ultimate equalization and CO.
ordination OF the production and con-
sumption conditions throughout central
Europe
Our move proceeded from no polit-
ical considerations Of any sort, but
from reasons that were purely econom-
lie. The ever embarrassing economic dis
treSS demanded speedy reorganization.
not only for the benefit Of Austria, but
in the interests Of every European ma
ton, so that yet further cleavage and
disruption in Europe's economics might
be fruStrated-a task which can be sue
cessful only IL all political considera-
tions and questions OF power are ex-
cluded.
The peace treaties could never have
purported or intended to bring about
the pauperization of the European peo-
Piles. Our plan OF action, therefore, is
in no way opposed to the spirit of
these treaties.
Tomorrow: Austria's reply to critics
OF customs union plan.
(copyright, 1881. By North American News