Evening star., 1943-11-04
Austria

W. ~
One Of the most interesting parts
or the JOINT cOmmunique issued by
the three-pOWer conference at Mos
COW is its declaration ON Austria.
That declaration regarding Italy
should have been issued was fore
gone conclusion, since that country
is partly in Allied occupation and is
a major battle-ground between Allied
and AXIS forces. But Austria is not
invaded by Allied armies, nor can
1t be, except by air raids, until a
prior Balkan invasion or the eX-
pulSion of German forces from Italy
brings the Allied ground forces
within striking distance of Austrian
soil. Why, then, was Austria singled
out for specific mention when all
the other countries under German
occupation or control were either
omitted from the communique or
mentioned only in connection with
general considerations?
AN iiiollNAo IOi 81 dOlIlR can Dt
varlOuSly interpreted Perhaps the
most plausible Interpretation is a
desire to reaSsure or rally the Cen
tral European and Balkan nations,
especially CZechoSlovakla AuStria'S
annexation to the Reich in the
spring of 1888 rendered Czecho-
Slovakia virtually defenseless against
German aggression, since there are
no natural defenSeS on that side.
The CzeChS must therefore be un-
alterably opposed to Austrian union
with any sort Of Germany, since it
would leave them dangerously en-
clrcled and isolated. In VARYING
degrees. every state of the Danubian
basin, together with Italy. is un-
favorably affected by Austria's con-
tlnued union with Germany, re-
gardleSS OF its mOmentary regime.
The big three in Moscow therefore
express their intention of re-estab-
fishing free and independent
AUSTRIA" which will block German
expansion to the southeast and the
south.
However, this political decision in
wolves vital economic problem. The
Republic Of Austria set up a genera
ton ago at Versailles was not eco
nomically viable. 1t was a mere
truncated remnant of the former
HabSburg empire. It's great capital
city OF Vienna simply could not live
on the restricted Austrian country
side, and its former extensive eco
nomlc hlnterlandS were closed off
behind new tariff walls erected bv
the other succession states" I'm
less the restoration of an inde-
pendent Austria is accompanied
by economic interdependence of
the Danubian countries including
CZechoSloVakla, the tragic cOnse-
quences of Versailles are bound to
repeat themselves. Fortunately, the
Moscow conference clearly has this
IN mind: because its insiStence upon
Austrias political independence is
followed by the assertion that it
Will Thereby open the way for the
Austrian people themselves, as we'll
as those neighboring states which
will be faced with similar problems,
to find that political and economic
security which is the only basis for
lasting peace"
Thus far, the declaration on
Austria appears to be inspired bv
stateSmanlike vision. But the final
clause seems rather incongruous.
1t says that austria is reminded
however, that she has a respon-
Slblllty, which she cannot evade, for
participation in the war at the side
OF Hltlerite Germany, and that in
the final settlement account will in
evitably be taken of her own con-
tribution to her liberation.'
Just what did the trainers of
the Moscow declaration mean when
eii>y "hoIS HuoIIld . Inc rPOuDllc
was abolished by German occupa-
ton in 1888, and the country united
with Germany as the result of
plebiscite. There never has been.
and is not now, an Austrian gov
ernment-in-exile able or even claim
ing to speak for the Austrian people
The warning issued from Moscow
may be good propaganda to stimu-
late unrest and guerrilla movements
in the country, but it hardly seems
fair to measure AuStria's future
status by the degree of popular re-
Slstance shown to Nazi rule. The
fate OF Austria should be deter
mined by broader and more per-
manent considerations.
Way back in 1893 a German was
arrested in this country who claimed