GRAVE PORTENTS

Northern Advocate, 31 July 1934, Page 5

GRAVE PORTENTS

EUROPEAN UNREST

WARFARE POSSIBILITIES

WHAT GERMANY MAY DO.

AUSTRIA »S DILEMMA.

(United Press Association —By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) (Received 9 a.m.) LONDON, July 30. Mr G. Ward Price, Director of Associated Newspapers, Limited, who has gone specially to-Vienna, in an article in the “Daily Mail” states that France, which is now at the peak of her military strength, fears' war, but does not fear Germany. France would take part in any war which began by Germany attacking a Western European Power. She wants Britain to guarantee Holland’s neutrality, in addition to that of Belgium, thus enabling Holland to allow its aerodromes to bo based on the British Air Force as a base for counter attacks against, Germany if necessary. France does not think that Germany wants war, because her preparations are incomplete, .although she is j convinced Germany has a concealed air force capable of an instant and s, formidable offensive against Franco or England in mass formations, against which no-groat city could be defended.

Mr Price says that the small states round Germany believe she would annex first Austria and then Czechoslovakia, and that then she would drive through Yugoslavia to the Adriatic.

However, ' events like the assassination of Dr. Dollfuss may lead Germany into ‘ courses which Herr Hitler is anxious to avoid. Austria leans hoavily r on Italy, yet the latter alarms her because, if the Austrian *Nazi legion entered Northern Austria from Germany, Italian ,troops would simultaneously enter Southern Austria. Prince Starhemborg is courageous, but impotent. He is lacking in knowledge and statesmanship. Ten years ago he supported the Hitler “putsch’’ at Munich,' but now he leads a Government "which believes that Herr Hitler is its worst enemy. Many people regard a Royalist restoration the. best pledge of peace. Neither • the Hohenzollerns nor the Hamburg? . Would again risk their thrones, by "warfare, . England holds the key to the situation. Hesitation, obscurity and reserve, by the British Government would help and not. hinder the crash.