The Press THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 1935. Italy's "Vital Card"

Press, Volume LXXI, Issue 21582, 19 September 1935, Page 10

The Press THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 1935. Italy's "Vital Card"

" This is not a game of poker," Signor Mussolini is reported to have told the Home correspondent of a French newspaper, " but Italy has "a vital card and will play it." If the threat is anything more than bluff, it probably has to do with the possibility of a Hapsburg restoration in Austria. Since the war, Austria has been the keystone of the European political structure, and for the last two years or so Italy has been the principal guarantor of Austrian independence. Further than that, every Austrian government since that of Dr. Dollfuss has been maintained in power by Italian support and there is evidence that the Heimwehr has been subsidised from Italy. If, therefore, Italy wishes to set up a diversion in Europe to distract attention from her Abyssinian venture, she has a weapon ready to her hand. Last month the Austrian Government startled and mystified Europe by repealing the laws forbidding the return of the Hapsburgs and restoring the Hapsburg properties confiscated when the Austro-Hungarian Empire broke up in 1918. Although the Chancellor intimated that this was merely " the righting of an ancient " wrong " and that restoration of the monarchy was "not an immediate question," there was instant alarm among the countries of the Little Entente. Jugoslavia and Rumania in particular regard the proposal to restore the Austrian monarchy as nothing less than a proposal to revive the old Empire and to re-establish Hapsburg domination in Central Europe. At the end of July Prince Paul, the regent of Jugoslavia, and King Carol of Rumania met in Sinaia to discuss the situation that had arisen and it was freely rumoured that they were in favour of an alliance with Germany, coupled with full acceptance of the anschluss scheme, as a counter to the activities of the Austrian monarchists. The supposition is that the repeal of thi anti-Hapsburg laws was dictated by Signor Mussolini so that he could, in the last resort, hold over the heads of the powers attempting to thwart his Abyssinian designs the threat of an immediate Hapsburg restoration. For France particularly the execution of the threat would create a very awkward situation, since it might deprive her of the support of the Little Entente and put an end to her influence in central Europe. But the weakness of Signor Mussolini's plan, if it is indeed his plan, is that the reactions of the Little Entente to a Hapsburg restoration cannot be predicted with any certainty. Dr. Benes, who has far more influence than either Prince Paul or King Carol, is even more opposed to the extension of German influence southwards than he is to the return of the Hapsburgs. Moreover, the feeling against the Hapsburgs in the Little Entente is based more on bitter memories of the Empire than on reason. There is in reality not the faintest prospect of a reunion between Austria and Hungary under the Archduke Otto; and even if there was these two countries are so weak that they could not threaten the independence of the members of the Little Entente. The real menace to peace and security in central Europe is the spread of Nazism; and there could be no more effective barrier to this spread than a united, independent Austria with a Hapsburg monarch. In the event, the statesmen of the Little Entente would probably realise this.