Evening star., 1934-03-14
DANUBE ENTENTE
PLAN PROGRESSES
0o|Ifuss Meets Il DuCe in
Second of Tri-PoWer
ParIeys on Trade.
Nv the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
ROME, March 1.-Two little mer
with big ideas-the square -jawed
Benito Mussolini. master of Italy, and
the dapper Napoleon Of Austria.
Engelbert Dollfuss-sat down at a
polished desk in the Venezia palace
today for the first Of series Of con
ferences that may write history.
A third government leader, Premier
Julius Goemboes Of Hungary, was not
at the council table as the meetings
planned to last through Thursday
began. Previously, 1t had been under.
stood the three would seek in three
cornered parleys q solution of Austria s
and Hungary's economic and political
ills. At the last minute today, it be-
came known II Duce would receive
the visitors separately.
Regardless of the manner Of their
meeting. the three hope before Thurs
day night to reach an agreement
which. while proving mutually ad-
vantageous Immediately, eventually
may serve the ends Of peace and
better times in Europe as a whole.
Will Meet Socially.
The three men will be together only
at the brilliant social functions plan
ned-including a dinner tonight and
the opera tomorrow night.
In well-informed circles, 1t was said
Mussolini believes that to talk with
Chancellor Dollfuss and Premier
Goemboes separately offers the best
approach to an agreement between
Austria and Hungary, themselves. as
well as among Austria, Hungary and
Italy.
Beginning with the long converSa-
tion with Dollfuss today. II Duce Is
believed to be molding discussions
pretty generally around his Danubian
plan, promulgated last Autumn. 1t
outlines a course whereby Mussolini
hopes the difficult economic situation
of countries in the Danubian Basin
may be remedied.
But, forming an undercurrent OF
general speculation today is the gen.
eral belief that Mussolini hopes as q
prime but little commented upon con-
sideration to prevent an Austro-Ger-
man union through the agreement
expected to be reached.
Economic Aid Is Vital.
In semi-ofiicial circles it has been
said that If Austria and Hungary can
be put on firm foundation econom-
ically any possible threat Of German
domination over Central Europe will
thus be effectively removed.
Briefly, Mussolini's plan provides
for bilateral agreements mutually
binding Italy and Austria. Italy and
Hungary and Austria and Hungary,
each to aid the others expectations
through customs preferences. special
treatment of the others industrial
and agricultural products and partial
reservation of markets.
One idea back of the entire pro.
gram Is to establish ultimately an
area of freer exchange which eventu-
ally may be widened through the par
ttcipation Of other countries.
On all sides 1t was said that pre-
liminary negotiations had left nc
doubt that the ee-premier parley
would result satisfactorily for all con-
cerned.
First Session Yesterday.
II Duce and Gen. Goemboes held
two long conversations yesterday
thus paving the way for Dollfuss and
Mussolini to get down to business
without delay when they met shortly
before noon today.
This morning Dollfuss and Goem-
boes checked statistics with their re.
spective stats Of experts over theil
breakfast coffee In final preparations
for the actual start Of the meetings
At the palace the little Austrian
chancellor was greeted first by Fllvic
Suvtch. italian undersecretary for
foreign affairs, who ushered him into
Mussolini's office.
For Gen Goemboes the morning
was free. He spent most Of the time
at the Hungarian legation talking
with his economic advisers.