AUSTRIA AND GERMANY REACH AGREEMENT

Northern Advocate, 13 July 1936, Page 5

AUSTRIA AND GERMANY REACH AGREEMENT

CONTRIBUTION TOWARDS EUROPEAN PEACE NEW CO-OPERATION IN THE FATHERLAND FRONT

L United Press Association.—By Electric T elegraph. — Copyright .] LONDON, July 11. agreement between Germany and Austria was announced this evening in broadcast speeches by Dr. Goebbels, German Minister of Propaganda, from Berlin and Dr Schuschnigg, Austrian Chancellor, from Vienna. ;, . « The official text is as follows:-^ “In the conviction that they are contributing to the development of European peace as a whole, and in the faith that they are thus serving the manifold mutual interests of the two German nations, the Governments of Austria and Germany have decided to render their relations again normal and friendly.

“With this motive, it is stated

“(1) That, in accordance with a statement by Herr Hitler on May 21, 1935, Germany recognises the full sovereignty of the Federal States of Austria. “ (2) That each Government considers the inner political developments existing in the other country, including Austrian Nazism, as the internal affair of the other country, in which they will not interfere. “(3) That Austria will maintain its policy in general, and in particular towards Germany, always on the fundamental idea that Austria recognises herself as a German State.

“Thus the Rome protocols of 1934 and their annexes of 1936, as well as the position bf Austria to Italy and Hungary as partners in the protocols, will not be disturbed, seeing that the lessening tension which both desire can be assured only if preliminary conditions are taken into consideration.

“Both Austria and Germany will create that situation by a series of individual measures.”

LESSENING OF EUROPEAN TENSION.

A message from Berlin states that Dr, Goebbels, in broadcasting the announcement of the agreement with Austria, spoke for three minutes. He prefixed the reading of the communique 1 with the remark that the agreement represented a further practical step towards a peaceful lessening of tension and the disentanglement of the European situation. -

A telegram from Vienna states that Dr. Schuschnigg declared the agree-

ment ensured European peace, adding: “Fate binds both German peoples together. Everyone, no matter what his former attitude, will welcome cooperation in the Fatherland Front. I can confidently state that Austria’s peaceful development will continue. “In spite of all that has happened the old Austro-German cultural relations are strong enough to enable us to come to a friendly agreement with Germany. I greet all Germans inside or outside our frontiers.”

The Chancellor said he had nothing to say which would alter the late Dr. Dollfuss’s conception. Austrians, while they were 1 German people, were not a German nation. The Government was determined to ' defend their independence by all possible means. FIRST FRUITS OF AGREEMENT. “There can be no place in Austria for Nazism or for other extremists sowing discord and hate,” said Dr. Schuschnigg. They will also be proceeded against relentlessly. “Austria as a member of the League will fulfil all her obligations.” The first fruits of the agreement ar;e believed to be seen in the appointment of Herr Edmund Horstenau and Herr Guido Schmidt as ministers without portfolios. Herr Horstenau is director of the Austrian War Archives, and outspokenly pro-Ger-man. He is regarded as the confidential representative of the German Government in the Austrian Cabinet, in pursuance of the agreement that the ministry shall include a representative approved by Germany. Herr Schmidt is also pro-German. Hitherto a high official in the Chancellory, he has now been promoted to the Secretaryship of Foreign Affairs. The Berlin correspondent of “The Times” says it is well-known that Herr von Papen, German Ambassador in Vienna, has for a long time been trying to reach an agreement with Dr. Schuschnigg for improving the economic relations between Austria and Germany, but it seems that the purpose of these efforts was to facilitate a: German reply to the British questionnaire. ■

IL DUCE CHANGES HIS VIEWS. The diplomatic correspondent of the “Daily Herald” asserts that Signer Mussolini now has changed his views on European policy. Last year, he strongly supported the Stresa Front, namely, Britain. France and Italy, largely because he expected acquiescence in his Abys_sinian venture. Now he is strongly against it, partly out of resentment, and partly because he is now more afraid of being involved in a quarrel with Germany. Italy, therefore, will only participate with the Locarno at the forthcoming meeting in Brussels on the understanding that Germany is brought in, and a serious attempt made to settle all outstanding questions. The Paris correspondent of the “Daily Mail” says reports of an Italo-German settlement regarding the independence of Austria are causing uneasiness in French official circles. It is felt that Italy must be giving Germany something very substantial in return for the latter’s reported abandonment of the idea of an Austro-German union.

CO-OPERATION WITH GERMANY. The French Press considers Italy will observe the closest co-operation with Germany during the forthcoming discussions. A message from Rome, however, says Italy will not attend the Locarno Powers’ Conference owing to some naval accords in the Mediterranean being still in existence, but she suggests that Germany should be invited to the preliminary discussions. The Rome correspondent of the “Observer” attributes the AustroGerman agreement to Signor Mussolini. He says “II Duce has achieved an important triumph. The inclusion of the Rome Protocol rids Italy of the danger of the Brenner frontier, which has dominated Italian life since the Great War. Also, it has eliminated the possibility of an “anschluss” (a union), which would be a casus belli to Italy.” A DENIAL. A message from Berlin states that the Government spokesman, in summarising the results of the agreement, expressed the opinion that the newspapers of both countries would be readmitted. Austria would remit the 1000 marks tax on visiting Germans; an amnesty for political prisoners would be arranged, and both nations would be permitted to show their national emblems on the other’s borders. The spokesman added that the agreement was not made in response to the British questionnaire, but was a confirmation of Germany's peaceful intentions.

It is stated in official circles in Vienna that Signor Mussolini had nothing to do with the agreement, which was concluded by Dr. Schuschnigg and Herr von Papon. It was due to Herr Hitler’s desire to conciliate Britain, and leave Germany free to deal with problems elsewhere, including Danzig.