Evening star., 1935-03-31
EUROPE SEEN In TURMOIL
AS PROBLEMS BREED WAR
Situation Prior to Great Conflict of
, 1914 Held Rosey Compared to
Present Outlook.

Furthermore, "Skoda" of Czechoslo-
vakia is the munitions maker of the
Balkans and Prague's ability to fur
nish almost unlimited war material
is important.
Since Italy desires to dominate the
Danubian region through the Austro-
Hungarian-Albano- Italian set-up, the
CZechs naturally find their interests
ranging with those of Yugoslavia.
Rumania is concerned chiefly over
Bulgaria and Hungary, both of which
have territorial ambitions which can
De satisfied only at Rumania's ex-
pense. Hungary claims TransyIvania
should be returned to her and Bull
garia has never forgiven the Ru-
manians for the stab in the back, and
the subsequent rape of Dobrudja,
after the second Balkan War.
The Rumanians, like the Yugo-
slaVs and Czechoslavs, are unalterably
opposed to the return of Otto to the
Austrian. and perhaps Austro-Hun-
garian throne. Italy is one of the
greatest supporters of Prince Otto.
With his return and with the influence
OF the Catholic Church and Otto's pos
sible marriage with an Italian princess
to forge a dynastic link with Rome.
the Italians see Austria's f1egemony
guaranteed and a Germano- italian
common frontier averted. A close
Austro-Italian union also would serve
Rome well in its dealings with the
Petite Entente.
The other side Of the Greek picture
Is represented by the anti-Italian and
pro-trench faction in Athenian poll
tlcs. Since MuSSolini ordered the
bombardment of Corfu the Greek Re-
publicans have had suspicious of
Rome's friendly intentions. They also
have seen the hand of the Fascists in
the Greek-Albanian controversy,
which, while it pertains to relatively
unlmportant matters, such as schools
and church rights, nevertheless Is an
lrritant that can be inflated into racial
and national importance.
Austria Danger Spot.
BY far the most dangerous spot on
the continent continues to be Austria.
No European chancellery-Paris,
Rome, London or Warsaw-has been
lulled into a feeling of security be-
cause of the outward disbanding of
the Austrian Nazis. The Berlin Nazis
have merely changed their form of
attack. They are profiting by the
lesson learned in the Saar-an old les
son which the Russian Communists
taught the world back in war days
that peaceful propaganda and pene-
tration is far more effective than
force. Italy and France can counter
forcible invasion in Austria with even
greater military force. But they can
not combat nationanstic propaganda.
In respect to Austria the European
powers are between the devil and the
deep sea. To maintain Austrian po-
lltlcal and national integrity indefi-
| nltely means establishment Of the
Hapsburg monarchy. France might
possibly agree to such step and SUP
port Italy were it not for two things.
First, it would give Rome the whip
hand in Vienna and secondly, it would
| mean a break with the Petite Entente.
And enthronement of Prince Otto,
Entente, would inescapably mean war.
On the other hand the alternative
to allied support of Chancellor
Schuschnigg-who is an out-and- -out
Royalist-i to leave Austria open to
German Nazi inflltration. There are
no longer any illusions about the aims
OF the Nazis. The return of the Saar
to Germany has not, as Hitler re-
peatedly declared it would, solve the
major differences between Germany
and her former enemies. If anything,
1t has made Berlin harder to deal
with. Great Britain has reluctantly
been driven to accept the Franco-Rus-
sian policy OF iron-hand in dealing
with the Nazis. And that policy this
year will cost British taxpayers $780,
| 600, 900 for additional armaments.
Warsaw Favors France.
OF almost as great Importance as
the Balkan situation is the Baltic
problem. There are evidences that
Warsaw is returning belatedly to the
Franco-British orbit after flirting with
Berlin for two years. Poland turned
to Germany because of her fear. or
rather inherent dislike, of the Rus
slams. When ex-Foreign Minister Bar
thou-the most realistic and hard
boiled statesman that has appeared
in Europe since the days of Poincare
and Clemenceau-frankly concluded O
deal with Moscow, the Poles turned
away from France. No effort has been
made by Paris to bring them back to
date. Now Warsaw rather shame
faceoly admits the errors of her way.
Thus far the Poles have not warmed up
toward France, but they have become
distinctly colder toward Berlin.
DomeStically there are several nice
little revolutions brewing in Europe.
Overthrow of King Boris and estab-
lishment of Bulgarian republic would
not surprise informed circles. Nor
would an attempt at restoration of the
monarchy in Spain, and actual restor-
alton of the monarchy in Greece.
Portugal is constantly on the edge of
revolt, although Dictator Salazar, who
is the real power while Gen. Carmona
holds the presidency, has strong grip
on affairs of state. In Albania, too,
the rule of King zogu is precarious,
especially since he has again turned
toward Rome, which advanced several
million gold francs of the old subsidy.
Financial stringency had caused the
Fascists to renege on their promise un-
til Tirana started flirting with Bel
grade and the Balkan Entente. Even
stolid Switzerland is restless with the
Socialist government of the Canton
OF Geneva openly defying the Federal
government by refusing to buy gas
masks and construct anti-aircraft
shelters for its population. The Free
City of Danzig, an objective of Ger.