Evening star., 1934-08-05
DOLLFUSS DEATH UNITES
EUROPE In NEW CONCERT
Hitler Has Committed Error of Ma
poleon in Uniting All of Continent
Against Him.

Moscow were thus able 10 exchange
views and concert action following
the outrage in Vienna: Prague, Bucha-
rest and Belgrade were in substantial
accord with the larger capitals.
Looking back 20 years It viii be seen
how different Was the situation In
1914, when another tragedy within
Austrian frontiers produced a similar
crisis. Then Vienna rejected British
intervention. Berlin supported Vienna,
Rome stood aside and Paris and st.
Petersburg stood fast together. In
1914 Europe was hopelesSly divided,
but in 1884 IL was united by the COM
mon fear OF Germany. Thus Hitler
had repeated the exploit Of Napoleon
In consolidating a continent against
his own country.
No Way Back for Hitler.
Dollfuss' death therefore marks the
end of the larger crisis which the
coming OF Hitler produced. There is
no way back for the German dictator
as far as Italy or Britain Is concerned.
The fact that he has abandoned and
even betrayed his Nazi followers in
Austria as he has murdered many of
his German supporters must fatally
compromise his. situation at home
both in the land Of his birth and that
of adoption. In both places the sands
in the glass are for him running out.
But he will acquire no merit in for
eign eyes by his backdown. No one
will trust him further.
Looking back more than a century
there was a moment during the Ma
poleonic struggle when, at Chaumont,
in 1914. the various allied govern
ments at last came to an agreement
that they would never make peace
with Napoleon. Settlement with
France on generous terms they were
ready to make, but only following the
abdication of the Emperor. A SINH
lar thing happened in 1918 when
Woodrow Wilson got rid of william II
From now on 1t is perfectly clear
that tive great powers of Europe will
maintain a common front against
Germany so long as the Hitler regime
survives in the Reich. Financially,
economically, politically it is thumbs
down for the fuehrer. And 1t is Ifes-
less evident that the influence Of Vat
ican City will be joined to that of
Rome Hitler is henceforth under
the ban of Europe. Germany, while
he remains in control or even in ap-
parent control, will be blockaded al
most as effectively as she was be-
tween 1914 and 1918
1t is patent that there is still re-
mote possibility that in desperation
Hitler will try foreign adventure to
escape domestic ruin. But this is at
most remote possibility. He has
separated himself by murder from
those who believed in him. He has
become a liability for the industrial
and Junker groups who financed him.
The army never was loyal to him.
Hindenburg tolerated him only with
repugnance. Once he had cut him
self of from his own revolution he
was doomed.
No Escape for Hitler.
Probably Hitler will 60 as Roehm
went, as Dollfuss went, as so many
others have gone since the firing
squad Supplanted the ballot box as an
instrument OF government. In all
human probability We shall one day
wake up to find that he, too, has been
shot while trying to escape" But
there is no escape for him now. Nor
is there any present hope Of relief
for the country which he has dragged
down to a level hitherto unplumbed
by any civilized state in modern
times. Even when Hitler has gone
the task of reconstruction will be diff
f1cult beyond calculation.
AS a menace to his own country. as
a danger to European peace, Hitler
survives the blood bath of June 80 and
the Viennese massacre of July IS.
But If the danger is real it is re-
stricted. He has united Europe
Action against him now will be recog-
ni2ed as a task of common necessity
and general utility. If Rome moves,
Paris will assist and London approve.
The agreement of Moscow is similarly
assured. What takes place under such
circumstances will probably parallel
what happened when Napoleon came
back from Elba.
No man in a high place ever played
his cards worse than Hitler has done,
He has ruined his country-hiS two
countrieS-in fact, betrayed his cause,
murdered his associates, sacrificed his
allies. But for one thing at least it
is possible to be grateful to him-un-
Intentionally he has restored European
solidarity. Two years ago the recent
crime in Vienna could have set Europe
in flames; now it has only served to
demonstrate that there exists a
measure of unity in the Old World
sufficient to insure it against a repeti-
ton of the events of 1914. Therefore,
despite all that remains to justify
anxiety, in my Judgment the worst is
over SO far as Hitler is concerned.
(Copyright. 1934.)