NAZIS AND FASCISTS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXVI, 21 April 1934, Page 2

NAZIS AND FASCISTS

CRITICISM. OF MUSSOLINI

LONDON, 12th April

Mussolini, by forcing Dollfuss to crush the Socialists in Austria has achieved exactly the opposite from what was intended, as, instead of maintaining Austrian independence, he reduced it to a shadow, owing to the impetus given the Nazis, writes a correspondent of the “Manchester Guardian.

Italy is barely able to maintain the Austrian Heimwehr, and is spending only a fraction of what Germany is discreetly spending on the Austrian Nazis, the correspondent adds. If Germany :s sufficiently strong to ward off international intervention, which it at present fears, the Nazis would seize power, ensuring an Austro-German union. Nevertheless, Germany has not recovered sufficiently to finance rearmament enough to make her a great military power, and is now slowing the pace. She may be able to disregard international treaties, but cannot disregard economic laws, the correspondent says.

However, the Nazis are confident and willing to wait, but it is doubtful whether Austria as a whole can wait, as she is increasing her ruin by expenditure on armies and armaments, wliil she has lost all her charm, gaiety and kindliness which preserved her in days of even greater economic stress. The famous Austrian atmosphere has disappeared, leaving nothing to attract tourists except her scenery and art treasures.

It is doubtful, also, whether Austria can be disarmed and pacified in order to permit better political and economic relations with her neighbours, also whether subversive Halo-German influences can be eliminated, enabling Austria. to live a normal life before Germany decides to solve the Austrian problem in the German way, and even for Austria the German way will be better than no way.