Evening star., 1936-07-14
The DictatOrs' Deal.

Speculation RACES as to the actual mo-
tives which inspire the epochal Austro-
German treaty While views vary widely,
there is consensus that the accord is
essentially dictators' deal between Hit
Ter and Mussolini, with the "inde-
pendence" of Austria merely the pretext
for a German Italian program that
ramifies far beyond her narrow borders
Indications multiply that the Fuehrer
and II Duce have in fact laid the foun-
dations of an agreement comprehending
their hegemony over territory spanning
Europe from the Mediterranean to the
Baltic.
The implications of such partnership
are obvious and portentouS. 1t would
bring about a far-fung realignment of
political and military power. 1t would
establish a bloc Of nations comprising
Germany, Italy, Austria and Hungary,
with combined population of 10000, 900;
Poland, with another 10000 900, and pos
sibly even Yugoslavia, with an additional
100000. Such combination would
create in the heart of the Old World a
solidarity of nationalist relationships
challenging Russian communism in the
east and British, French and Belgian
democracy in the west. incidentally, it
would seal the doom of French influence
In Eastern Europe and sooner or later
probably draw into the German-Italian
orbit the Little and Balkan Ententes.
Time only will tell whether this vast
political remapping of Europe is designed
to strengthen the foundations of peace
or stabilize the perils of war. Hitler and
Mussolini are profuse in protestationS OF
desire to guarantee Europe against an
other conf1agration. The Roman dicta-
tor is said to favor new Locarno nom
aggression pact, but, along with Hitler,
to insist upon exclusion of the Soviet
Union. France loyal to her new alliance
with Russia, would have little enthusi-
asm for that suggestion, particularly as
the Nazs notoriously yearn to smash
the Franco-Soviet entente.
While Europe ponders the true inward
ness of these developments and seeks
to determine whether Hitler, having tenn
porarily settled with Austria. will now
feel free to promote Nazi territorial am
bitions at Dan1g, in Czechoslovakia, or
elsewhere, the impression deepens that
German domination at Vienna is
simple question of time. London hears
that in a secret annex Of their accord,
Hitler requires Austria to pledge itself
to create an army of 100000, to main
tain its independence, particularly
against the Little Entente. The same
London version recounts that Hitler
failed to persuade Chancellor Schusch-
nigg to agree not to raise for ten years
the question of a Hapsburg restoration.
Meantime, General Won Horstenau,
prominent Austrian NaI leader, has
Joined the Vienna cabinet as minister
without portfolio. With removal OF all
restrictions on entry of German Nazis
and their newspapers into Austria, Hitler
has every reason to expect that political
nature henceforth will steadily take its
course in his native land He is justified
in hoping that the conversion of the
Austrian people, as "professed German
state" to full-hedged Nal doctrine will
pursue the even tenor of its way, and
that in due course the swastika will be
accepted as the national flag of what
Chancellor Schuschnigg in message to
Berlin significantly terms "the whole
German people"