AUSTRIAN UNREST.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 139, 13 June 1936, Page 11

AUSTRIAN UNREST.

THE PEACE OF EUROPE

TREATIES AND GOOD WILL

BATTLESHIP MONEY.

(By PAUL MALLON.)

WASHINGTON, May 8,

The hidden explanation for many an international development may be found in the list of international loans. For example, British banks and investors hold approximately £42,000,000 in long term German credit and aroiyid £50,000,000 in short term credits. Italy, on the other hand, owes only around £2,000,000. Foreign Offices take these practical matters into consideration in choosing their friends.

Bad news has been seeping out of Vienna. It has, not yet reached the publication stage, but wise diplomatic authorities here would not be surprised to hear of a new uprising before the end of the summer'.

Evidence is accumulating tha.t the Nazi element is getting out of hand — even Hitler's hand apparently. They say the Feuhrer does not want the coup just yet, for fear it will spoil Britain's friendship. But Austrian Nazis, encouraged by the ease with which Hitler seized the Rhineland, are becoming impatient. The Austrian Government is supposed to have curtailed munitions for its own troops lately for fear that some of the bullets may shortly be fired against it. "It Won't Be." A general European peace agreement is expected in the not too distant future. It will involve Great Britain, France and Germany, ant) will probably be hailed as a new era. It won't be. The dope here is that Hitler will be willing to sign a peace agreement in which many pledges are made, even concerning the eastern frontier. His idea will be to maintain Britain's friendship and avoid any drastic action by France. The way is now being quietly cleared for bargaining over -such, an a

But, even if Hitler swears it, no one here will believe he has abandoned his eastern hopes. Treaties have been made before —and broken. The time when he will move eastward is still problematical. His last Rliineland move was timed to offset a dangerous situation developing between the Radical and Conservative elements among the Nazis and unrest among the German people. This is not French propaganda. Trustworthy confidential advices say such a situation actually existed. When his domestic situation dictates again, and when the Foreign situation is quiet, Hitler will move, and move eastward, no matter how many treaties are signed. He may be able to avoid it for a year, and then again he may not. U.S. Battleships. Federal spending is becoming more and more complicated in view of economy campaign requirements.

For example, the Navy wants two new battleships. The British are going to lay two new keels after the first of the year. Unless we match them we will be outdistanced in that type of ship, which the admirals say is the "backbone" of the Navy.

Admiral Standley said, upon returning from London, that £2,000,000 would be needed to commence construction on the vessels. The President, a few days later, said there was not a chance of getting the money out pi Congress (a polite way of saying it did not fit in with his economy campaign position). Two days later, Standley called on President Roosevelt. Afterwards he announced that the Navy would scrape up £400,000 of unused odds-aiul-ends funds to start work on the ships, if Mr. Roosevelt would only get Congress to authorise them, a necessary legal step. Thus, the idea now is to lay out a few girders in the dry docks works, call them battleships in the making and get Congress to appropriate the funds for finishing them—after the election. —N.A.N.A.