Evening star., 1936-05-10
CRISIS In AUSTRIA DUE
AS NAZIS MAKE GAINS
Present Government Seen Willing to
Cooperate With Hitler-Il Duce
Interest Dwindles.

are at the present moment organizing
the Austrian Nazi legions.
Hitler decided to wait for better
opportunity when his armies would be
ready, and the complicated interna-
tional situation would allow him to
achieve his aims with impunity. In
the meantime German diplomacy has
been busy throughout the Danubian
republic preparing the reunion Of
Austria to Germany.
As representative of the Reich in
Vienna, Hitler sent his former col
league and rival in the last democratic
cabinet, former Chancellor Won Papen.
There could have been no better
choice. Herr Won Papen, a strong
Catholic, who holds the honorary po-
sition of chamberlain to the Pope. was
the man to impress the deyout Catho-
lies of Austria.
Envoy-extraordinary Won Papen has
been as active in Austria as he was
here in washington during the early
days of the World War, and in the
past two and a half years he has left
nothing to chance. Not only has
Won Papen organized the Nazi groups
on a more efficient basis than his
predecessors. but he has taken many
hunting trips" to Belgrade, where
he convinced the government that
Yugoslavia has nothing to lose and
everything to gain from an Austro-
German marriage.
Plays an Anti-ItaIian Feeling.
Won Papen has played on the anti
Italian feeling Of the Serbs and
Croats. He has persuaded the lead
ers in Belgrade and in Zagreb that
Austria, under Mussolini's domina-
tion, will be q real menace; that the
new military road from Vienna to
Milan following the course of the
River Drava could bring Fascist
legions to the Yugoslav border In no
time, and that Austria under the rule
of the Hapsburgs will become an
Italian protectorate inimical to Yugo-
slav interests.
Finally q few weeks ago, in order
to overcome the last hesitations of
the Belgrade government, Won Papen
suggested, in Hitler's name, that in
the event Of an Anschluss, a por-
ton Of the province of Carinthia as
far as Villach and Klagenfurt might
be ceded to Yugoslavia.
The Reich's offer now appears
worthy of consideration. Heretofore
Belgrade leaders were lukewarm
toward German advances. The Reich
had not yet shown its strength;
France was supposed to be sufficiently
powerful to curb any attempt of Hit
lers to expand in the East; and the
Serbian general staff had such q deep
contempt Of the military power of
Italy that it did not worry about
Mussolini.
The last three months, however,
have brought about a substantial
change among the realistic Yugoslav
leaders. They saw Germany obtain
whatever she wanted with impunity.
They looked toward France and dis
covered that the country was help
1000 xACL D111OdAy AldI1lllCly 10 otlll
excellent, but internal political dis
sensions will not permit her to take
any active steps against Germany
when the latter is ready to take over
Austria. The failure of France to re-
taliate against the remilitarization of
the Rhineland has lowered her pres
tige with the Yugoslav government.
Finally, the achievements of the
Italians in Ethiopia have revealed the
italian Army in q different light to
the Yugoslav general star. The Bel
grade generals realize now that Il
Duce's legions must be reckoned as
serious opponents.
Would Turn to Reich.
The Yugoslavs do not allow senti-
mental considerations to influence their
politics. They have been loyal to
France and the Little Entente 30 long
that they believed this combination
Of powers was the best guarantee
against Italy. But when they real
ize, as they do now, that they must
not expect any effective help from
France against n Duce, they are
ready to abandon their former poll
cies and to turn towards the Reich.
Whether Mussolini Is as determined
to maintain Austria's Independence"
by force, If necessary, Is q matter of
doubt.
On the surface 1t appears that
there has been no change In u Duce's
policies toward the Danubian repub-
lie. He Is still paying important sums
to Vice Chancellor Prince Starhem-
berg to maintain his military fascist
organization, the Heimwehr. There
are still between three and four Italian
Army corps concentrated on the Aus
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