Evening star., 1936-05-10
BY CONSTANTINE BROWN.
attention of the State De-
partment, like the winds of the

partment, like the winds Of the
European chancellories, is TO-
cused on Austria, where, since
the remilitarization of the Rhine
land, Nazism has made deep inroads.
Whether the formation of a gov
ernment in Vienna, patterned after
Hitler's, will cause an explosion which
will once more shake the foundations
of Europe or whether it will be ac-
cepted as an inevitable sequel of the
present world situation is a matter
still open to speculation.
The ultimate fate of Austria con-
Germs Germany, Italy, the Little En-
tente and, indirectly, France, more
than the Austrian people themselves;
they don't much care under whose
tutelage they live. There is not a
Single American who does not know
that the solemn sentence expressed
so frequently by Europe's statesmen,
"Austria's independence must be
maintained" means only that this or
that power wants to dominate this
nerve center of Central Europe. 1t is
for this reason that Viennese officials,
like the rest of the Austrians, refuse
to become excited at the idea of an
other clash between the mercenaries
Of Mussolini and those of Hitler.
A diplomat, recently returned from
Vienna, tells story which illustrates
this frame of mind. He was walking
with high official toward the foreign
Office, discussing the burning ques-
tion Of what was going to happen
to the country in the event of another
''putsch." In the midst of the con-
versation the official turned around,
stopped and exclaimed: "You see that
little lady? Isn't she the most at
tractive thing you ever laid eyes
on?" And without giving the foreign
diplomat time to answer he grabbed
him by the arm and rushed in pursuit
OF the pretty Viennese. They followed
her into the Demel-an exclusive
cafe behind the opera house-and
while the Austrian high official con-
sumed cream puffs, devouring the
lady with his eyes, he told his foreign
colleague: What is the good Of get
ting excited over these political ques-
,tions? Let's take life as it is and
enjoy 1t while we can"
Powers Plot for Control.
: But while the Austrians themselves
are not particularly worried over the
ultimate fate of their country, Rome,
Berlin and the capitals Of the Little
Entente are plotting and intriguing
for the control over the Danubian Re-
public, because whoever controls vi
emma possesses the key to the gates Of
Southeastern Europe and the Balkans.
Austria may have lost its political
influence over Eastern Europe since
the postwar treaties reduced her
from an economic and political entity
of 100000 people to a small re-
public with 100000 souls, but CEN
turies of cultural influence cannot
be wiped out by treaty. And Austria
continues to be the spiritual mother
of the Balkans. Vienna continues
to be the educational center of the
youth from Belgrade, Sofia and Buch-
Arrest. Furthermore, Austria still is
the clearing house between Western
and Eastern Europe. Geographically,
lit is the economic capital Of the
states OF the Danubian Valley.
The country is like dwarf with G
huge head and a small body. The
head is Vienna which contains Is pei
cent of the republics total population;
the body is the hinterland with little
economic assets. And it Is for tht
dwarf, who holds the key to the
Balkans, that Italy. Germany. France
and the Little Entente might come to
grips.
In order to dominate the Danubian
Valley economically, the Reich must
dictate In Vienna. This Is not only
the policy of Hitler, but Of the pre-
yious democratic German govern
ments. In April. 1881, Stresemann's
attempted Anschluss with the sister
republic was frustrated by France and
the Little Entente.
Hitler Wants AnschIuss.
Hitler, in his political bible, Mein
Kampf, has made 1t clear that the
panubian republic will have to be-
come an integral part of the Reich.
After the last plebiscite he re-empha-
sized this decision by appointing i've
Austrian citizens as members Of the
Reichstag.
But as long as Germany had not
completed her rearmament the efforts
for q reunion with Austria were un-
successful. The last Naz putsch, two
wears ago, failed because the Reich did
not have suficient forces to face the
threat Of military intervention from
italy and the Little Entente. The
leaders Of the sbortfve coup d'etst