Evening star., 1933-06-21
The German-Austrian Crisis.

Austro-Germ relations seem to be
drifting irretrievably to crisis. De-
termination Of the Hitlerite Nazis to
extend their sway, in the old spirit
Of -Germanism, over Austria is the
basic cause. Throughout the past
month irritating episodes In both
countries have followed one another
in rapid succession. Nazi pretensions
in Austria were only whetted by the
opposition Of Chancellor Dollfuss, who
presents an iron front against them
This week, as the result OF particu-
larly grave series Of Nazi terroristic
activities, the Vienna government for
mally outlawed Hitler organizations in
Austria and proclaimed the intention
OF suppressing them ruthlessly from
now on. The decree followed . fatal
bombing attack on a provincial de-
tachment of the Heimwehr, the Aus
trian state police, who have been fight
ing sporadic pitched battles with Nad
elements since early Spring. Chan
cellor Dollfuss' embargo on Hitlerism
followed, too, on the heels Of last
weeks arrest Of member Of the Aus
trian legation In Berlin and his ex-
pulsion from Germany-an act in
contravention of all diplomatic usage.
Details apart, what Hitlerized Ger
many seeks is an "all Germanic" Nazi
empire in realization Of Hohenzollern
Germany's shattered middle Europe"
dream. This would bring about the
"anschluss," or union Of the central
powers, expressly forbidden by the
World War peace treaties. The Nazis
are proceeding in Austria as If the pro-
hibition did not exist and are thereby
courting inevitable international COM
plications. The present Austrian gov
eminent lends no countenance to these
Naz Vaccinations and that explains
the Hitlerites' plot to bore from within
and destroy politically Chancellor Doll
fuss and all those who stand with him
in defense of Austria's political inde-
pendence.
That Europe scents peril in the sit
uation thus provoked is evidenced by a
statement in the British House Of
Commons on Monday. The spokesman
of the foreign Office told Parliament
that the British government notes with
sympathetic anxiety the efforts of Aus
tria to preserve its sovereign integrity
against external aggression. Similar
assurances of support were received by
Chancellor Dollfuss from other quarters
while he recently was at the head of
the Austrian delegation in the London
Economic Conference. Whether such
signs that Nazi attempts to submerge
Austria are of direct concern to the
rest of Europe will stay Hitlerism' s
hand before it Is too late remains to be
seen. Meantime it is unmistakable that
the embers Of another European con-
dagration are being famed in the same
region in which, nineteen years ago
this week, the World War was set
alight.
NaA designs on Austria happen, by
accident or design, to coincide with the
amazing demand raised the other day
in the London Conference for return
of Germany's lost colonies. Herr Hug
enberg. the Hitherto delegate. who
sprang this bombshell, was officially
disavowed in Berlin, which naively ex-
planned that the delegates suggestion
that Germany needs more room in the
sun did not refer to Europe, but to the
Far East and South America"
Toxic and Washington will take due
note of this proclamation that Nazi
aspirations are now globe-wide in ex-
tent. Soviet Russia's response to the
Hugenberg threat in London was to
the effect that any German attempt
to grab Russian territory might end in
Russian occupation of some German
domain. as the Red Army Is thoroughly
capable Of taking care of itself in case
Of raiding operations by Germany.