Evening star., 1934-02-18

cations of practical European politics.
The day that Germany absorbs Aus
tria she adds 100000 inhabitants to
her population and extends her boun-
diaries to Italy, Yugoslavia and Hun
gary on the south and east. This
means that Germany's population will
| then be almost twice that of France
or Italy and that her territory will be
| enriched by valuable natural resources
and industrial developments. Futher-
more, by the extension of her terri
tories and the increase in her strength
/ she will be in a position to effect far
reaching political changes in Eastern
/ Europe.
1t is no secret that the next step in
the Hitler program following the an
neXation of Austria is the acquisition
OF the German-speaking territories of
/ Czechoslovakia (the old Bohemia). An
examination of the ethnic map of
Czechoslovakia shows that the Ger
man-speaking peoples for the most
part are concentrated on the outer
| fringes of Czechoslovakia, bordering
Germany and Austria These people
number about 100000 and are
among the most highly skilled indus
trial workers in Europe. Their ter
ritory is rich in factories and mines.
/ If they were to be joined to Ger
MANY the Czechoslovak state could
not survive.
Would Bring New Alignment.
without considering the arguments
for and against the survival OF the
! Czechoslovak state, it is pertinent TO
note that it's dissolution would bring
a complete new alignment in the Eu-
ropean political situation. The reason
for this is to be found in the racial
composition of Czechoslovakia. 1t
contains. in addition to about 100000
Germans. nearly 1000, 900 Hungarlans,
coo. 600 Ruthenians and fair num-
ber of other nationalities. The nat
ural course would be for these groups
to unite with others speaking their
own language This would mean that
the Hungarians would tend to be re-
united to Hungary. At the same time
the chances are that the Slovak popu-
lation would in whole or in part be
taken over by the Hungarians who
ruled over them for centuries prior
to the creation of the Czechoslovak
state. -.
The strengthening of Hungary would
be viewed with particular dlsfaVor oy
the Rumanians and Yugoslavs. Fur
thermore, these two nations, as the
allies Of CZeChOSlovakia, would flno
themselves in new and dangerous
position. The reason for this is that
in the peace settlements they obtained
large portions of the former Hun
garian Kingdom-territory inhabited
partly by Hungarians and partly by
other races Rumania, for example.
received Pennsylvania, which has a
large Hungarian settlement in its very
center. Yugoslavia received in addi-
ton to Croatia. portion of the So
called Banat region, which is peopled
by all kinds of races. The present
Kingdoms of Rumania and Yugoslavia
fear that Hungary enlarged by por-
tions Of Slovakia would not rest con-
tent until she had restored other ter
ritories taken from her after the war.
This would mean losses for Rumania
and Yugoslavia AS result these two
nations are distinctly uneasy at the
prospect of the Anschluss.
III Poland Is Concerned.
For Poland the extension of German
territory and increase of German
population would be matter of par
ticular concern owing to the virtual
certainty that Germany would not rest
content until she had feacquired not
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