The Wilmington morning star., 1946-09-14
The First Treaty
~ ANNE O,HARE MCCORMICK

PARIS, - Reverberatlons OF the ByrneS
speech still echoing across this continent
drown out the whispering sound OF the flrst
treaty Of peace made at the Paris Conference.
This is the ~Italo-Austrian agreement to end the
dispute over South Tyrol, a fostering sore left
by the policy of stripping Austria after the
First World War. This agreement, signed last
week by Premier de Gasperi OF Italy and
Foreign Minister Gruber of Austria, does not
change the boundary, but it provides virtual
self-rule for Germans of the border province,
annuls the Mus solini-H Hitler pact tor exchange
of populations and abolishes customs barriers
nat have prevented exchange OF products be-
tween two halves Oh a district that 1uncuoneo
for centuries as an economic unit.
The arrangement has caused quite a stir
among the thwarted and weary delegations on
the winning side. They are quick to point out
that the first constructive step reported in
Paris is made outside the conference by de-
feated and ex-enemy nations. They add that
the next step to be expected is a veto by one
Of the Great Powers on this Independent move
to reconcile differences 'across the line" For
the aspect of reconciliation in the Tyrol that
most impresses the audience in the
Luxembourg chamber is that it links not only
two neisnboring countries but a nation in the
Soviet zone with one in the Western zone.
Thus this sideline agreement over the tilted
green valleys of a mountain frontier has a
bearing on the central question of our time.
It is a small test in a great borderland strug.
gle that statesmen gathered here are acting
to settle, to ignore or to bring to a head.
viii the Soviet Government approve a settle
ment arrived at on their own by Austria and
Italy? It has been carefully worked out in
weeks of negotiation and presented to the For.
aioo MiptStorc, Council G ON amendment tn
Article Ten Of the Italian treaty. No objection
is expected from the Americans, the British
or the French. A leading member OF
the American delegation says the agreement is
one of the first evidences of good sense he
has seen in the treatment of border questions.
The explanation is that there is no fear OF
war between Austria and Italy, both are COM
panions in misery seeking friends and both
have more or less independent and moderate
governments freely elected by the people.
In these circumstances 1t Is not impossible
" uauu4e Interstate problems with some ue-
gree OF sanity. Even the Tyrolese. here to
press 1or a pieDisclte, seem satisfied with the
solution. In years OF separation from Austria
.ney became one OF the most fiercely national
lSllc mlnOrlt.eS In Europe a claiming contIrma-
uon OF the thesis that irredentlsm Is a furnace
OF explosive nationalism. Their attitude now
proves soElethlng even more fundamental to
ne peace. 1t proves that people are content
wnen assured OF living their own lives in their
own way. using their own language, governing
themselves in essentials and enjoying Tree con-
tact with their kinstolk in a natural economic
environment.
This is what the new agreement provides.
1t is mostly the work Of two men who under
stand border psychology and believe ordinary
people ale reasonable i they feel they are
,a,,o traafoI i,,ct1xr NO,r,0 nv Cr,,har ooei1u
one of Austria's future leaders If Austria has
a future, Is a 1yroIean and DE Gasperi, a
FORMER Austrian subject, is an irredentist from
the Tren,lno. Their great auvantag &c is that
people OF both races in the frontier province
believe they are making the best possible ad-
iustment OF a highly charged issue.
1ney nave the further advantage Of making
a staD at settling something for themselves.
lhls gives a special satisfaction to nations
waiting on the doorstep for the verdict of the
conference. Even insiders, although convinced
that their arguments and recommendations
won't nave much effect on the final decisions
and more and more concerned that the Big
Four agree on almost any terms, welcome a
precedent that indicates that they may still
make snail deals among themselves.
But will Russia acquiesce in this settlement
between Austria and Italy? The Austrian from
tier was the only Italian border left as 1t was
In the Oh aft treaty agreed on by the Foreign
Ministers. and the reason it was left unchang.
I'd was because Russia was satisfied with the
present line II remains untouched in the Italo.
Austrian agreement, and the negotiators be.
lleve that Moscow cannot oppose an altera.
ton in the status of South Tyrol which in.
wolves nothing but a shift of Italian internal
policy. Since, however, the result of this shit
will be 10 draw the two countries closer to.
getner ana is frankly talked of as a first
step toward a possible customs union, it NAV
be Interpreted by the Russians as a subtle
form OF intrusion in, their domain. AT this
moment, at any rate, they are interposing
more objections than ever to Mr.. Byrnes' ur-
gent pleas to set a date for discussing peace
with Austria.
Two important questions are tied up in the
1talo-Austrian initiative: How far are Euro
pean nations, all in a state of economic and
political crisis. prepared to go toward solving
their 8 own differences and organizing them.
selves into a free trading area? How far will
Russia interfere with a process on which the
LIE or death Of Europe depends? This is WHY
there is so much interest here in the fate O.
tne new amendment to Article Ten of the
Italian froafv- = NIo,,, w.. w.t.