Evening star., 1934-02-14
BY DOROTHY THOMPSON.
(Mrs. Sinclair Lewis.)

tMrS. Sinclair LcWlS.I
NEW YORK, February 14.-What
is happening In Austria Is not reyolu-
ton, but civil war.
It is partly civil war between the
cities and the villages, between the
urban, industrial workers and the
peasants, as the American Civil War
was essentially struggle between the
industrial North and the agricultural
South. But the Austrian civil war Is,
furthermore-and more Importantly
a war fomented by outside powers.
AuStrianS, who are essentially one
of the most peace-loving and civilized
peoples on earth, are brutally killing
each other as I write these lines in
the interests of Italy or Germany or
France. The dreadful events now TAX
ing place are the result Of Is years Of
greedy, unimaginative, narrow national
policy on the part OF all the European
powers, which has finally as its VIC
tim a small, poor and desperate
people.
Austria Is the real corridor OF Europe.
1t lies right in the path of the national
the treaties of Versailles, Trianon and
st. Germaine reapportioned Europe
without recognizing it, the powers
have sought to keep foothold in this
small land, which had little left to 1t
except empty palaces, heavenly seem
cry and an old culture.
Stands Between Opponents.
Italy's always dormant struggle with
YugoSlavia involves Austria, because
any possible war between Italy and
the South Slavs must by geographical
necessity be fought across Austrian
territory.
The Adriatic coast, which an ex-
panSive Italy covets, is impregnable
for masses of troops from the sea.
Yugoslavia Is open on land only across
Austria Italy is also divided from her
ally, Hungary. by Austria Germany,
mutilated by the treaties and chafing
under the pressure Of her $1,000 900
OF population bottled up in a small
area, without even colonies to which
to send the surplus, has always looked
upon union with Austria, q purely
German country, as natural and in
evitable.
But against this Frances Eastern
-CZechoslovakia, Yugoslavia and
r u m an / a have been adamant; |;
CZechoSlovakia because three million
Germans live within her borders, be-
cause she has been threatened since
she came into existence by Hungary
who has the backing of italy, and
because a Germany extending to the
Grenner. to the borders of Hungary
and Yugoslavia, would cut her COM
pletelv off and challenge her whole
national existence.
Therefore, for Is years there has
been in Austria no purely national
policy. There have been policies made
not by AuStrians, but by outside pow
erS. Austria has been a cheSsboard.
And the outside powers have played
with Austrian parties, Austrian arma-
ments and Austrian finance France
and the Little Entente, for instance
have tried to keep their foothold in
Austria with money; by bringing
about the financial dependence OF
Austria upon themselves, and a coun-
try so poor, SO cut of by tariff walls
has had to take the money.
For years there have been three
private armies in Austria and they
represent far less divisions of opinion
amongst the Austrian people than
they do the hopes and ambitions OF
outside powers These private armies
are instruments Of political parties.
And the political parties are, to an
extent, instruments of foreign powers.
Italy Encourages Heimwehr.
There is, first of all, the Christian
Socialist party and smaller political
groups, chiefly representing peasant
interests, WHO are headed by Chancel-
lor Dollfuss. These groups are strongly
nationalist; they wish an independent
Austria; but like every other party,
they have had to bolster themselves
with outside help. During the last
years their ally has been Italy.
Italy has no interest whatsoever In
the welfare Of Austria. Italy is en-
tirely interested in the welfare and
security of Italy. Her influence has
encouraged the formation of the
Heimwehr, private army, headed BY
Prince Starhemberg. Its equipment
rifles, uniforms, bombs-haS been
purchased with Italian money and
much of its armament has come
directly from Italy.
Then there Is the great Social Demo
cratic party, which ever since the wal
has won in every election two thirds
Of the votes of the City of Vienna
and which is powerful in all industrial
centerS. 1t Is in no sense q revolu-
tionary party. 1t is no more Boil
SheviSt than our N. r. A!
At the time that the Austro-Hu
garian monarchy collapsed the Social
Democratic party had Overwhelming
power and If it had wanted to it could
have taken over the new Austrian
state and made ia totalitarian Social
1St organism. Instead, it chose democ-
racy and representative government
and started by basing its power upon
ballots. It's foreign policy has shifted
from time to time. Originally it was
Tor union with Germany-when Ger
many was democratic country-but
as Germany moved farther and
farther toward reaction the Austrian
Social Democrats moved away from
Germany and came to rely more upon
the small neighboring powers, and
especially upon Czechoslovakia. It
also has its private army-the Schultz
bund-and it has received arms from
Czechoslovakia.
Forgot About Peasants.
But, more than any other party in
Austria, the Social Democrats have
fought against foreign domination.
They set out to reorganize their little
country in the interests of the welfare
OF the masses of the working people.
Their great tactical mistake lay in
their lack of interest in the peasants,
but inside the citY of Vienna which