The Waterbury Democrat., 1935-06-17


 worry to diplomats and states of many, furnishes the most q European conflict?
 Briefly the Austrian problem Is titanic struggle between the great and small powers of Europe as to whether Austria shall be united with Germany to form q great Nazi empire, wether Austria shall call back her Hapsburg Elm peror to forge new Austrian na- ton from the wreckage of the peace treaties, or whether Austria will continue to be kept alive by foreign financial mad political in- terventlon.
 To understand the reasons for these three alternatives 1t is nec- essary hastily to review the Austria created by the peace treaty Of saint Germain.
 Before the war Vienna was the capital of 6 vast empire with a population of 51,0oo,0O0 in a terri tory of 261,000 square miles.
 Territory Cut Vastly.
 The peace treaty reduced Vienna to the capital of a small nation of 6,500,oo0 inhabitants in a terri tory of 32,000 square miles. over- night Vienna, with practically one- third of the total population of the tiny, new state, became an im- poverished city. It's access to the sea was lost: Austria became an inland state with no economic arr teries to feed It's population.
 For 16 years Austria has strug- gled along in misery and virtual bankruptcy. The great powers bumped money into the country to koap 1t alive and to prevent the country's desire to unite with Ger many. Austria is now living under foreign financial and military sup port.
 Coalition Now Rules.
 The present government of Aus fria is q coalition between tho clerical following of Chancellor Kurt von Schuschnlgg, and the fascist and anti-clerical following of ice.Chancellor Prince Ruedi- ger von Starhmberg. Replying up- on help fro mthe Pope (Austria is predominately Catholic) and Pre-. mier Benito Mussolini, the gov- ernment hopes to make Q patriotic, united Austrian nation out of the available but admittedly poor ma terial.
 The great powers support the present regime because they can not agree on any other. Chan collor Adolf Hitler wants Austria to. join Germany. This would mean great German Empire with com. mon frontiers with Italy and al. mist frontiers with Italy and al. most encircling choslovakia. It would be the beginning of German Nomination in the entire Balkan region.
 Powers Oppose Union.
 Italy, France, England and the Little Entente arc vigorously op- posed to any sort (even customs union) of absorption of Austria by Germany. Austrians are divided on this question, but 1t Is generally believed a heavy majority would favor union with Germany.
 one thing is certain; in case of c war between Germany and Italy, the Austrians will NOT fight against the Germans.
 Since Austria's union with Ger many would mean q European war. what about the other alterna. tive; restoration of the Haps- burgs?
 About this question Czechosio- valkia firmly, and the other mem- bers of the Little Entent somewhat less firmly. have frequently said 1t would mean overnight mobilization of their armies.
 Czechoslovakia, Rumanla and Yugoslavsa do Not want Otto of Hapsburg on tho throne of his father, Emperor Karl. They fear q strong Austria might endanger their peace treaty gains and de- Hlroy the domination of the Little entente.
 United Front Impossible. The big powers prefer a restora- ton to union with Germany. but their hands are tied by the stead . fast opposition of the Little En- tente. Yugoslavia, for example. would consent to Austria's union with Germany before she would agree to a return of Otto, wherets Italy would go to war before she would have the Germans on her Frontiers. but she would not go to war if the Hapsburgs returned.
 Amid this confusion ct interests
 
 Last summer the pow6vr barrel nearly exploded when the Nazis murdered Chancellor Engelbert pollfuss and attempted to set-up Q Nazi government.
 z They failed because Italy mo- bilized troops on the Austrian frontier thereby forcing Germany to refrain from helping the rebels. The fight for union or restora- -