AUSTRIA'S FUTURE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXV, Issue 45, 22 February 1934, Page 6

AUSTRIA'S FUTURE.

By destroying (lie Social Democrats, Dr. Dolli'uss has lost his best allies against Hitlerism. The struggle will now be between the supporters of Fascism and the Nazis. Prince Stahremberg, the leader of the Heimwehr, lias openly declared himself in favour of a Fascist State, and this would mean that Austria would have her foreign policy dictated by Italy. This, of course, would not suit France, and to avoid it France is bolstering Austria's unsound economic and financial structure with loans. The truth is that Austria cannot stand alone. It cannot live for ever on loan money, and it must either look to Italy, or Germany, or some Danubian federation. This last has been rendered impossible by the jealousies of the European Powers. Italy is believed to favour a reunion with Hungary under a Hapsburg monarch, but though Hungary might favour a return to monarchy, she certainly would not favour any scheme for yoking herself again to Austria, particularly if Austria were in any way under the control of Fascist Italy. The victory of the Heimwehr has brought, no real solution of Austria's economic problems. The Heimwehr itself is divided on the question as to whether it should follow Hitler or Mussolini. Any union with Germany would be opposed by Britain, France and Italy. France, again, does not look with favour on any extension of Italian influence in the Danubian countries. There is at present a three-cornered rivalry between Italy, France and Germany, with Mussolini in a strong position by reason of the growth of Fascism in Austria. The only real solution seems to be a modification of tariffs and trade restrictions between Austria and Germany, and between Austria and the Danubian countries. This could easily be arranged if it were not for the rivalry and jealousies of the Powers. Austria, however, cannot remain permanently isolated economically, nor can she exist much longer on borrowed money. Some solution must be found, and the League Council seems the body to devise it.