The Northern Advocate Daily MONDAY, JULY 13, 1936. GERMANY AND AUSTRIA SHAKE HANDS

Northern Advocate, 13 July 1936, Page 4

The Northern Advocate Daily

MONDAY, JULY 13, 1936. GERMANY AND AUSTRIA SHAKE HANDS

Registered for transmission through the post as a Newspaper.

A development which must have far-reaching effect upon the future of Europe is recorded in today’s cable news. Germany and Austria have decided to resume normal and friendly relations. This fact was broadcast

from Berlin and Vienna, the peoples of the two nations, as well as those of other nations who listened in, being made aware, almost simultaneously, of the agreement. What does the understanding portend? That is a matter about which there will be difference of opinion, but, ostensibly, it is to facilitate the development of peace in Europe. The more cautious or sceptical will see in the agreement a movement to consolidate the forces upon which Germany may rely if she should be impelled to _ move her armies against any nation or combination of nations. Time will show whether such fear is justified. Herr-Hitler’s declaration of Germany’s policy on May 21 of last year is declared to be tho principle underlying Hie agreement. Germany recognises the full sovereignty of the Federal States of Austria, and the Governments of both Germany and Austria agree that political developments, including Nazism, in either country shall be tho business of that country alone, the other having no right to interfere. Austria, in her attitude towards all nations, but particularly towards Germany, will act on the fundamental principle that she is a German State, in that the peoples of both are of the same blood.. This is in accordance with Hitler’s declaration of policy on May 21, 1935, when he said that Germany neither intended nor wished to interfere in the internal affairs of Austria, to annex Austria, or to conclude an “Anschluss,” which signifies union, “The German people and the German Government have, however,” he added, “a very comprehensive desire, arising out of a simple feeling of solidarity, due to a common, national descent, that the right to self-deter-mination should be guaranteed not only for foreign nations, but to the German people everywhere. T believe that no regime which is not anchored in the people, supported by the people and desired by the people can continue permanently. ” This statement was made at a time when Austria was manifesting resentment of German efforts to impose Nazism on her people, and Hitler openly regretted that the tension which had been caused had disturbed Germany’s formerly good relations with Italy, “a State with whom we otherwise have no conflict of interest.” These words are significant in view of a statement in today’s cables that Mussolini has changed his attitude towards the “Stresa Front.” It was at Stresa that the representatives of Britain, France and Italy made protest against Germany’s unilateral rearmament, and reiterated adherence to the Locarno Pacts, 1 which forbid war as an instrument for the settlement of international disputes. Italy’s experience in Abyssinia has no doubt changed the colour of Mussolini’s spectacles, for he is now reported to insist that Germany shall be admitted to the forthcoming conference of the Locarno Powers. This is interesting in view of Hitler’s declaration (also on May 21, 1935) that Germany makes a clear separation between the Treaty of Versailles, “built on the distinction between victors and vanquished,” and the League of Nations, which “must be built on equal valuation and equality of rights of all its members. ” The German Government, the Chancellor went on to say, was ready at all times to take part in a system of collective co-oper-ation for the safeguarding of European peace, but held it necsesary to conform to the law of perpetual evolution by keeping open the way to treaty revision. ’ ’ Much has happened during the past thirteen months, • and Germany, as well as Italy, has taken provocative action in more ways than one. Their changed attitude towards one another today may provide cause for speculation, for Mussolini always regarded an Austria hostile to Germany as a barrier between Germany and Italy, but. it would lie very regrettable if suspicion, rather than a desire on t lie j part of Britain and France to cooperate, should lire vent the extension of the Locarno principles. The alternative to peace in Europe is so terrible that, despite heartbreaking disappointments in the past, everything possible should be done to refashion and strengthen the League of Nations. Germany has very largely cut herself adrift from tlie provisions of the Versailles Treaty. Beyond the question of the return of lost colonies, there is comparatively little to be done by the Powers to make possible Germany’s return to the League of Nations. Would Germany’s presence at the conference of Locarno Powers

| facilitate this return? If this I were the outcome, it would surety be well worth while. It will be very interesting to hear what j ßritain has to say about the possibilities envisaged by the rap- ■ prochement of Germany and Austria, the evident welcome which Italy lias extended to it, and the : movement to secure Germany’s I attendance at the Locarno Conj ference. There is more in the de--1 velopments than meets the eye.