Evening star., 1942-03-11
Austria Held Key
World Peace
Fourth AnschIuss Anniversary
Prompts Discussion Of Need
For Free Danube State
To the Editor of The Star:

On March II, 1888. Hitler's panzer
divisions invaded Austria That was the
very day when the World War II began.
After a tremendous war of nerves from
1888 to 1888, after the numbering of
Chancellor Dollfuss and hundreds of
other Austrians in well-prepared and
well-organized guerrilla fighting of fifth
columnists the Nazi armies attacked
and, Austria left alone, became the first
victim of Hitler's march through Europe.
There were not many European states
men then to realize the danger of this
aggression. Very few were willing to
meet the situation in any other way than
by recognizing Hitler's brutal invasion
and the destruction of the freedom OF
an independent nation.
Today, four years after this event
"the Austrian incident" was the official
term of the very official appeasers-
Winston Churchills article on 1.-THE
Austrian Eye-Opener," which appeared
on March 18, 1898, still shows the only
way which could have saved Europe.
But nobody was willing nor ready to
is to find out which of the powers of the
second rank in Europe would be willing
to Join with Great Britain and France
for special action, not excluding armed
resistance. under the Covenant of the
League If none of these states, how
ever menaced, is found willing to join
with the two Western democracies, then
Nazi domination over the greater part
of Europe is inevitable at no distant date.
Alone, Great Britain and France cannot
save Europe and avert war. But
the seizure of Austria cannot be allowed
to lie as it does. pointed out on Mon
day March IA, 1889 in the House Of
Commons that the NaZi mastery OF
Vienna dominates all the roads, rail-
ways and rivers upon which the states
of the Little Entente depend for their
military cohesion, for their economic life.
Vienna, The ancient capital of once
mighty empire, is the ganglion nerve
center of the trade and communications
of all countries of the Danube basin, and
others beside. It would be possible for
the Berlin government, by an abuse OF
tolls and tariffs on the Danube and on
the Austrian railways, to paralyze the
trade of CZechoslovakia and YugoSlavla
and to sever these countries lrretrlev-
ABLY from one another, even with
out firing a shot. CZechoslovakia could,
therefore, be strangled into unwilling
S,IhrniSSion Two essential re-
uuirements stand out. First, effective
guarantees for the protection Of minorl-
ties, and secondly. reasonable freedom
of Austrian communications Tor
commercial purposes. Both these ques-
tionS are of vital Importance to the
states of the Little Entente, and OF
scarcely less consequence to Hungary.
Bulgaria, Greece and Turkey. The SAL
walton of these countries and their future
is at stake. and upon these issues they
can found means of immediate COM
mon action If the policy which have
outlined should be adopted and should
prosper, the Austrian eye-opener' may
vet be made the means of saving Europe
and the world from miseries beyond the
dreams of hell"
At that time, Mr. Churchill went un-
heard The invasion of Austria did not
open any eyes. On the contrary, the
nations closed their eyes even though
HitlerS legionS were marching on. Coun-
try after country was invaded until the
greater part of Europe was subjugated.
Then, in December of the past year, the
Eastern partner of Hitlers gang OF ag-
gressors. Japan, launched her war against
the United States, and the Far Eastern
outposts of England and Holland.
There can be no doubt: We shall win
this war, because the period of retreats
and defensive actions will be succeeded
by offensive superiority and final victory.
But Just as victorious war requires an
offensive strategy, so lasting peace
needs an theological and political often
sive with sound principles and construc-
tive plans. The aggression of the totali-
tartan powers is not only military 1t
also is one of planned political strategy
and propaganda We Austrians know
the method well.
The total war must be followed by
total victory. Total peace means total
reconstruction. An Demonstrated house
is a danger to its occupants and its
neighbors. 1t is not improved by merely
supporting it's walls. 1t must be re-
placed by better constructed, we'll
planned building. The same with Eu-
rope. Japans attack in the East was
possible only because an ill-constructed
postwar Europe generated forces OF de-
struction. The United States policy,
therefore, will have to watch that the
Europe-to-be is better planned. Other
wise those nations would face repe-
tition of European chaos in another 20
years.
The principles of European recon-
struction are already outlined: They are
comprised in the Atlantic Charter, the
declaration by the United Nations; by
the Popes peace aims, and the declara-
ton of the Christian churches in Eng
land Not new order" but only
natural order based on the eternal prin-
ciples of religion can restore lasting
peace.
To carry out the task of such peace
everybody must be summoned who is
willing to cooperate for it. The recon-
struction of Europe after these miseries
beyond the dreams of hell" will need
the people and good will of all European
nations.
Here once more, we face the problem
- ctor