WIDE REACTION

Evening Post, Volume CXXII, Issue 67, 16 September 1936, Page 7

WIDE REACTION

THE AUSTRIAN MOVE

BALKANS AROUSED

A general collapse of disarmament provisions seems to have been started by Austria's introduction of compulsory military service, writes J. E. R. Gedge from Vienna to the "New York Times." Although Germany set the evil example a year ago, it had no immediate reactions in Central and South-eastern Europe while the Little Entente remained the watchdog of the treaties and the greater Powers were not too preoccupied to hold the smaller States to their bond. At the last Rome conference of Premier Benito Mussolini, Chancellor Kurt Schuschnigg of Austria, and Premier Julius Goemboes of Hungary, it was apparently decided the present was the appropriate moment for Austria to proclaim a skilfully-devised formula of "universal service, with or without arms," which left the loophole for Austria to contend it was, not military service, so it did not constitute a treaty violation. So Austria became the stalking horse for Italian imperial policies. Although Hungary has not yet made a similar move and although Budapest newspapers have left Austria-to bear the brunt of Yugoslav" reproaches by j declaring Hungary has no immediate intention of following suit, nobody in Central Europe believes the Hungarian action will be long delayed. Already Austria's one-sided action, which provoked an apparently unexpected diplomatic protest by the Little Entente, appears to many Austrians as undiplomatic as her hasty pro-Italian, anti-sanctionist declaration i before the League of Nations last year, which-brought the Government .intense unpopularity at home and abroad. . ' EXAMPLE OF TURKEY. It can hardly be doubted that Austria could have obtained equivalent concessions by negotiation without provoking the , somewhat humiliating Little Entente rebuke had she declined to listen' to Mussolini's recommendation for more high-handed methods. It is not pleasant for Austrian statesmen to see the far more diplomatic procedure adopted by Turkey, a stronger State, who informed the League of ' her desire to negotiate concerning the removal of armament restrictions on her Straits. ■ \

With Italy declining to acknowledge the authority of the League and declaring that she cannot fulfil.her Locarno Treaty obligations as long as sanctions are maintained, it is useless to expect her to co-operate in resistance to the Turkish demands, 'which probably will go through, further weakening the disarmament movement. ,-

Another blow to disarmament is Greece's reported proposals, in exchanse for support for Turkey's demands, that she be authorised to erect previously forbidden fortifications on the islands of Mytilene,- Chios, and Lemnos and also on Corfu, which dominates the entrance to the Adriatic. The Bulgarians have been prompt to notify through the newspaper 'Mir." which is under the influence of the Foreign Office, that Turkish fortification of the Straits would enable Turkey to close to the Bulgarians their exit from the Black Sea to the Aegean Sea. She will, says the "Mir," without opposing Turkey, demand from the League fulfilment of the promise of free access to the seas that ■ was never fulfilled.

This -promise can; be'fulfilled only at.Greece's expense;.so another problem, long tacitly overlooked, is, .'res' opened. Greek diplomatic circles declare Greece will hold Bulgaria to the letter of the Treaty of Neuilly, especially regarding the prohibitions' of fortifications within ten miles of the frontier of Thrace.

The "Mir," while declaring thai. Bulgaria does not approve Germany's and Austria's one-sidqd violation nE treaties, feels the Question of her own re-arma-ment is now so urgent that it is intolerable for treaty violators to get away with armament spoils which are reftised to adherents of treaties. HUNGARIAN DEMANDS.

The .auufcanan ■ Jr-ress promptly chimes m w^tn new aemanus. unconnrmed buc apparently weii-xounueu reports an JBUuajjest political circles inuicaxe tne ' .Hungarian - Ministers to i_.onaon arm .fans are aireauy aencatejy sounding tne views oi me uovurnmencs to wmen tncy are accreoued on re-armament lor jiuugafy. Again tue *ress cnoruses, Dux wnn a new note oi assuredness, tnax tne division oi Europe into' victors and vanquished cannot be. perpetuated and; rejoices because Tui'itey,. an adherent or tlie principle ox sanctity oi treaties, is now demanding revision.

'Xtia newspuper "Uj Magyarsag" says Hungary wm refuse to ue innuenced by tnreats.or advice but will re-estao-nsli military equality wnen sne cnooses.

- Although tne agj,reisive actions or bigger lowers loom larger in the world's eyes, the iJalkans nave long been, known as '"Kurope's powder magazme," so this weed's developments there can only cause general uneasiness except lor the happy armament firms, on whom alone the European sun continues to smile.