Evening star., 1948-12-12

Gay OF MS lie. he says CQaL ElCleT
undoubtedly a madman with a mis-
sion and in complete control of Ger
many. Hitler openly told him OF
his desire to annex Austria and de-
clared that he could march into
Austria with much greater ease and
infinitely less danger than he in
Cured in remhitarization of the
Rhineland. Schuschnigg admits
that appointment of Seyss-Inquart
is highly dangerous but states that
he will make it in order to avert the
worst" In respect of Italy, Schu-
schnigg declared that he can count
only on moral, not material support.
Schuschnigg is attempting to
make best of bad situation and was
in long and friendly converse ton
with Seyss-Inquart. Hornbostel is
in utter despair and states openly
that there is nothing left for him to
do but to leave Foreign Office.
italian Minister claims that he
was informed of Berchtesgaden
meeting only on the eleventh and
denied that Italy took any initiative
in the matter. He telegraphed full
information to Mussolini. Latter
however is engaged in winter sports
and up to last night Ghigi had no
information that his messages had
reached the Duce. Italian Minister
gives anxious impression.
Papal Nuncio admits that Seyss-
Inquart may be good Catholic but
fears nevertheless that it is the be-
ginning of the end.
The French Minister who has
been here five years states that this
the most critical moment since July
1884. 1T is not the end. 1t is the
moment before the end" In his
opinion Austria can only be saved
by immediate reconciliation of
France and England with Italy and
joint act. Enderrs author
Of May constitution made identical
remark this morning.
In my opinion Austria's situation
is most unfortunate and menacing.
II Seyss-Inquart is loyal his ap-
pointment would not be a solution.
If he is disloyal it is a catastrophe.
Germany probably plans gradual
Danzigification and any unsupport-
ed efforts OF Schuschnigg may make
to outmaneuver Seyss- -Inquart can
at best only retard this process.
Repeated by telegraph to Paris,
London, Berlin and Rome.
WARSAW, NO. ss, MARCH %,
PM.
"One. learn following In strict
est confidence from Beck and his
associates:
"(a) Beck gained distinct impress
sion in conversations with Musso-
lini and Ciano during Beck's recent
Rome visit that they both shared
Beck's view in respect to Dahubian
Valley: whereas Italy focused its at
tention on the Mediterranean and
Poland on the Baltic neither would
like to see the hegemony Of any
country develop further in the Dan
lbian Valley.
"(b) OF pertinent interest more
over during the adjournment of
conversations Musso-
lini had recently pointed out Italy
was fundamentally interested in as
the extent to which Brit
ain would be interested in doing
to bring about economic
and other appeasement In that area
which had been disturbed by recent
events (such as Austria). NV in
formants added that in other words
Mussolini's soundings on this score
indicated Mussolini's interest In en-
barking on a potential counter pol
icy Wis a Wis Germany's suspected
in Danubian Valley; the
counter policy envisaging economic
to rescue the Danubian
and Balkan states from being swept
into the German camp.
1.-TWO. My infornants added their
opinion that Britain would probably
oe inclined to leave treatment Of
his problem In abeyance until cur
'ent obstacles still retarding an
Anglo-Italian solution of the prob
em in Spain will have been elimi-
mated"
Ambassador Anthony J. DrexeD
Biddle Jr)