THE DANUBE

Manawatu Standard, Volume LV, Issue 255, 25 September 1935, Page 2

THE DANUBE

AUSTRIAN INDEPENDENCE

DIPLOMATIC NEGOTIATIONS. All Central Europe is to-day asking itself one fateful question —will Herr Hitler launch his long-delayed offensive to make Austria a Nazi province when Signor Mussolini, chief upholder of Austrian independence, finds Ins military power wasting away in warfare in Abyssinia? (wrote a London correspondent on August 31). Signor Gayda, the unofficial spokesman in recent weeks of Italian foreign policy, has explained, in an article in a Vienna newspaper, the present position of the negotiations for a Danubian pact. His main conclusion is that the Little Entente, apparently prompted chiefly by Yugoslavia, is at present delaying the pact by demands on Italy which go far outside the contemplated scope of the pact. He claims, however, that even if the project has to be abandoned, Austrian independence would best be secured on the Franco-Italian agreement, morally supported by Britain. Signor Gayda says that when Signor Mussolini and M. Lava] concluded their agreement in January they agreed on a common procedure on the Austrian question. The Italian, French, and Austrian Governments undertook to consult together about measures to be taken if Austria’s independence or integrity was threatened. France, however, desired that all other Danubian States, and particularly the Little Entente States should collaborate.

HUNGARY’S CONDITIONS. Italy primarily, thought to ensure the adherence of Poland, Austria, and Hungary. She ascertained that Poland would join if Hungary also did so. Hungary made as conditions of a final settlement of her dispute with Yugoslavia at Geneva the acknowledgment of her military equality of rights and definition of her right to watch over the interests of Hungarian minorities beyond her frontiers. The Little Entente countries made counter-demands which did not facilitate a solution of the problem. They wished to make acknowledgment of equality of military rights for Hungary and Austria conditional on the signing by these countries of a mutual assistance pact with the Little Plntente. They further wished that Italy should join in non-intervention and" mutual assistance pacts with all the Balkan countries, including Rumania.

These demands, savs Signor Gayda, extend the scope of tlie projected pact far beyond the original limits. The demands made on Italy in respect of Balkan countries had gone far beyond the original project, and made it unrecognisable.