Evening star., 1934-02-04

so long as Hungary declines to join
in any economic organization Of the
Danublan area and makes territorial
revision the price of any material
agreement with her Czech neighbor,
the existing deadlock must continue.
1t must continue because there u
just one conceivable economic solu-
ton for the Danubian problem.
Could Live Together.
That solution is the economic. not
the political association of the three
races which constituted the core Of
the old Hapsburg monarchy-the Ger
mans of Austria, the Czechs of Bo-
hemia, the Magyars of Hungary Eco
nomically these three fragments Of
the old monarchy are lnlerdependent.
Austria is commercial, Bohemia in
dustrial, Hungary agricultural Within
common tariff walls, or on the basis
of bilateral tariff treaties. they could
live. Such an arrangement would
cover more than 10000 900 people.
Between Hungary and Austria, too,
In recent times no small progress has
been made In the direction of BIZ
lateral tariff arrangements. But be-
fore similar agreement can come about
Czechoslovakia must face the prob
lem of restoring to Hungary some three
quarters of million Magyars. living
in solid masses just across the new
frontier Of the treaty of Trianon,
which was drawn for strategic rea.
sons, without regard to ethnic con-
siderations
There is. here, no question of gen.
eral treaty revision. There could only
be bilateral bargain between Prague
and Budapest. with territorial con-
cesslons on the Czech part, balanced
by economic on the Hungarian. The
moment for that is obviously propi-
tious because, although for the Hun
garians the prospect of the arrival
OF Germany at Vienna is unwelcome,
/ 1t does not menace their existence.
while for the CzechS it must spell the
end of independence.
So far the rivalries of Paris and
Rome have prevented rather than pro-
NOTED arrangements between Buda-
pest and Prague. But now France
and Italy are equally alarmed while
/ Czechoslovakia and Hungary are
faced with even grayer Immediate
dangers. But the key of the whole
situation during the next few OBJ.
/ Viously critical weeks or months must
! be sought in the Czech Magyar situa-
| ton.
Even if Czechoslovakia, Hungary
and Austria should reach an agree
ment assuring economic viability for
all three, however, this would be
worthless, unless France and Italy
were prepared to back the status quo
IN the Danubian area thus estab-
Hshed with their mllitcry forces SUD-
ported by these O. the three srlsu
. states them cltes. AID even this c--n-
blnatlon mig-lt well fill to imp S
the German. If the British cor ucd
IN their present state of indecision.
War Might Be DELAYED.
For, if the rivalries of France and
Italy in the recent past have been
mainly responsible for the economic
collapse and the political chaos in
central Europe, it is the hesitation Of
Britain today which paralyzes all DO
Iltlcal action to oppose the common
'front.' OF Hitler and his National So
clahst program. In the present crisis
British action or inaction is strangely
reminiscent of similar indecision in
the fatal days of July 1914. when the
Germans, misreading British pas7ivi v
as resolution TO remain neutral ur-
der all circumstances, rushed on to
their doom.
A European war this Spring might
be postponed. At least a semblance
OF vitality might be restored to the
League OF Nations if the British would
now JOIN the French and Italians, not
IN the discharge of new snowstorm
OF documents at the head of Hitler.
out In clear warning that the Brit.
lsh fleet would supplement the French.
Italian, Czech and Yugoslav armies.
II Germany continued to defy the will
OF Europe in the matter of Austria.
But British policy would have to be
made crystal clear, as it was when.
at the time of the treaty of San
Ntelano, the British fleet was sent
through the Straits to ConstantinopIe.
II Britain continues to hesitate. I
venture to forecast that before Mid.
summer troops will be moving into
Germany on many sides, from the
Rhlne, the Vistula. the Upper Elbe
and the Middle Danube For neither
france nor Italy can afford to permit
tne present situation to continue. or
to allow Germany to rearm while the
Danublan area remains in chaos and
thus continues to offer an open road
to German advance down the Danube
and up the Elbe.
Now, moreover. that Italy has
plainly joined with France in the
Central European situation, the
French have every reason to press
the issue. For the question of the
Sarre comes up for vote next year
and the return of the Sarre Basin to
Germany would be a blow of incal-
culable weight to France. But If q
new occupation of Germany should
take place. indefinite postponement Of
the plebisite would follow naturally.
May Be Second Bismarck.
Whether Germany would resist 4
new invasion remains o matter of
conjecture. But whether she resisted
and was smashed, as might happen at
any time during the present year, or
paSSlvely submitted, the blow to the
prestige of the Nazi regime would be,
In all human probability, fatal. On
| oAAC otiACA Ildllu, I11JleT can ReL AUS
tria and the Sarre he will be reckoned
a second Bismarck.
In sum, the Austrian situation has
reached point where we may have
a new general war in the Spring.
And the sole promise of escape from
such a conflict seems today: First,
a common front between Britain.
France and Italy at Geneva, acting
through the machinery Of the League,
but disclosing settled purpose To use
force If necessary; and, second, some
adjustment between the Czechs and
the Hungarians which will win Mag
var support for a constructive eco
nomic arrangement between Czecho-
slovakia, Austria and Hungary.
If neither thing is possible, II
Britain will not now join with her
old allies in common policy against
Germany to save Austria, If the
CZechs remain uncompromising In