Evening star., 1934-02-18

to see FasciSm than Hitlerism, be-
cause the former is more tolerant.
Whatever may happen, it is certain
that Italy will display force. If nee
essary, to prevent the establishment
Of Nazi government, because this
will ultimately lead to a German
Austrian union.
Italy In Central Europe.
The reason why Mussolini must pre-
vent at any price, even at the risk of
an armed intervention, the Austro-
German anschluss is that during the
last 10 years Italy has developed as an
important Central European and Bal
kan power. MuSsolini has brought
under the wing of Italy Bulgaria, AL
| bina and Hungary. Furthermore, in
spite of the alliance between France
and the Little Entente, the economic
interests Of Italy in Central and South
eastern Europe have increased greatly,
and with this the prestige of that
kingdom throughout this section OF
Europe.
Should France fail her allies, they
will be inevitably drawn toward Italy
by policy of self-preservation. And
this will be so much easier if Italy
shows now determination and uses the
mailed fist in regard to Germany.
For the time being Mussolini will
play with France and Britain 20
maintain an independent Austria.
When this becomes impossible he will
act by himself and encourage the es-
tablishment of FaScism in Austria,
giving that country the assurance that
she will be protected by Italy'S eco
nomic and political power and pres
tige. Italy does not want to annex
Austria. There Is too much dynamite
in that little republic. But she wants
tc take advantage of the present trou-
BILE and establish herself firmly as the
outstanding power east Of the Alps,
and eventually replace France as the
protector Of the Danubian states,
minus Yugoslavia.
A Danubian Federation.
II she can establish, through the
and Hungary, Danubian federation,
under her wing, the Italian ambitions
will be fulfilled.
MuSSOllIll eI1QcANOEco W OO Lkl1S IA
1892, but his plans were foiled by the
French opposition. Mussolini may
think that the moment for the reah-
zation Of such plan now has arrived.
Germany is for the time being quiet.
The manifesto Of the big Three"
which Is addressed to the world at
large, but is meant as a warning to
Germany, leaves Hitler cold. Ger
many Is doing nothing, he says, which
might be interpreted as an interven-
ton in Austria's internal affairs. Ger
many Is a mere onlooker, even less
vociferouS than the other powers.
This, Of course, Is only superficial.
Hitler and his Nazis are watching
eagerly what is happening across the
borders.
Austria in itself Is of little conse-
quence to Germany. If it were merely
question of establishing another
Nazi state in q German-speaking
country, 1t is doubtful whether Hitler
would give five minutes thought to It.
He would not consider it sufficiently
important to create an international
crisis.
But his game Is much bigger. There
is nothing else in the mind OF the
grand priest of Nazism than the old
idea of a Germany from the Baltic
to the Black Sea.
Hiter's Achievement.
Hitler has achieved already one
thing that not even Germany's great
est statesman, Prince Bismarck, was
able to achieve: Hitler has UNIFIED
Germany by doing away with the
score Of kingdoms and principalities
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