Evening star., 1936-07-19
BY CONSTANTINE BROWN.
two foremost military autoc-

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throw their lot together. tenn
porarily at least, and block all fur
ther efforts of Great Britain and
France for common understanding
on the basis of existing treaties. The
price of an Italo- German cooperation
with the other powers, Mussolini and
Hitler informed the Quai d'Orsay and
Downing street. is radical revision
of the injustices perpetrated on these
two nations at the end of the World
War.
Thus the belated efforts of Leon
Blum and Stanley Baldwin to bring
Italy back to the Locarno fold by
Britain withdrawing the bulk of its
fleet from the Mediterranean and
France denouncing the mutual as
sistance pact in the same waters, have
proved fruitless. Hitler and Mussolini
have put squarely before the London
> cabinet the question of colonial re-
adjustments and further revisions of
the Versailles treaty.
And, in order to prove to the West
ern democracies that neither Of them
was bluffing, the German foreign
Office permitted the news to leak out
that an arrangement had been reached
between the two governments regard
ing Austria in particular and the DAN
ubian Valley in general.
Despite the increased friendliness
between Rome and Berlin, it was an
open secret that the Austrian ques-
tion remained the apple of diScord
between the two relationships. Neither
wanted the other next door neishbor.
Mussolini could not tolerate a formal
AnschluSs which would bring expan-
sionist Germany to the borders OF
Italy. Hitler could not permit agrees
sive Italy TO remain in control OF
Austria.
ImpOrta nee of Austria.
Despite the fact that Austria Is no
longer a power-she is not even self
supporting-the Danubian republic re-
mains one of the most important coun-
tries in Central Europe.
For Germany, Italy's domination
in Vienna meant the control of the
economic gateway to the Balkans: for
Italy. the Anschluss meant an increase
100000 Germans in the italian Tyrol
who have never become reconciled
to the idea of being under Italian
rule
Mussolini and Hitler saw clearly
that unless this bone of contention
was removed, there could be no agree
ment between the two countries. And
Mussolini took the first step to show
the Reichsfuehrer his good will by
permitting Chancellor SchuSchnigg
to denote Prince Won Starhemberg,
important post of vice chancellor to
that of inspector of sports. Starhem-
berg, who had not been kept in.
formed about II Duce's change OF
heart. flew to Rome to discuss with
his chief what steps should be taken
against SchuSchnigg. MuSsolini was
kind to him and told him to keep
quiet. When the princeling spoke
about rousing his thousands of fol-
lowers, Mussolini merely reminded
him of what happened to former
Chancellor Dollfuss, who also was am
bilious.
You are young" II Duce is re-
ported to have said Enjoy life now;
your time may still come some day."
And the so-called pro-Nazi, pan-Ger-
rnanist Schuschnigg was allowed to
remain the undisputed master of
Austria.
Treatment of Otto Similar.
The same trea atment was given
young Otto Of Hapsburg. The Aus
trian people we're for him: Schusch-
nigg was for him; II Duce was not
against him. True enough, the Little
Entente had let it be known through
out Europe that Otto's return to
Vienna as King would mean the mo-
bilization of their armies. 1t was
good sport for II Duce, who told the
representatives of the three nations:
TRY it and you will see what will
happen" And more airplanes more
iron divisions we're dispatched to the
Austrian border.
Otto's bad luck was that his plans
did not fit in with Hitler's The re-
instatement of the Hapsburg dynasty
meant the strengthening of Italy's
influence in Vienna at the expense
Of the Reich. Friendly talks took
place between Rome and Berlin. with
the result that Otto was told to put
moth balls in his brilliant uniform
and wait. Mussolini turned
cold on him as he turned cold on
sStarhemberg. The imperial yellow
flag still can be seen in Vienna, but
Hitler intends to put the swastika in
the place of the black eagle in the
\ center of the flag.
These were Mussolini's concessions
TO his colleagues across the Brenner
pass. What did Hitler offer in ex-
change? He agreed to maintain the
status quo in Austria for a period of
three years.
ii Duce Without Illusions.
Rome, like the rest Of the European
chancellories, has no illusions about
the feelings of the Austrians. II Duce
is fully aware that the republic could
turn Nazi overnight. One word from
Berlin and all pretense of an in
dependent Austria fades away. And
neither the Italians, nor the League
of Nations. nor the Little Entente
could prevent that, short of a war.
None of them are ready to fight for
Austria's independence"
The agreement has been made. Of
course, between Vienna and Berlin,
but it has Rome's blessing. Hitler
agreed to swallow Austria on the in
stallment plan. but that was an i'm
portant concession. With this problem
temporarily out of the way. the Ger
man and the Italian governments are
proceeding now. with the study Of the
division of the Danubian valley into
spheres Of economic influence.
For political reasons Italy does not
object to conceding to the Reich
Yugoshvia, Bulgaria and Greece. DR..
Schacht has just visited these coun-
tries and has concluded economic and
financial arrangements. Gen. Goering
and Propaganda Minister Goebbels