AUSTRO-GERMAN UNION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20875, 18 May 1931, Page 8

AUSTRO-GERMAN UNION.

The sharp clash at Geneva between M. Briand and Dr. Curtius over the proposed customs union of Austria and Germany manifests a serious state of tension produced, particularly in France, when the agreement was mooted. There was perturbation then in Paris and in all the capitals of the Little Entente, and representatives of France, Italy and Czecho-Slovakia called at once on the Austrian Foreign Minister in Vienna to voice a united protest. After conversations between M. Briand and Mr. Henderson, the Governments of Germany and Austria were asked by the latter to submit the question to the League. Both Governments, while disclaiming any objection to the examination of the proposal in its legal aspect, said that they could not agree to its being examined from a political standpoint. The distinction, in this instance, is more difficult to maintain than to enunciate. By the protocol of 1922, the instrument setting forth the League's scheme by which Austria was saved from financial ruin, Austria bound herself neither to confer any economic privilege nor to alienate any of her territory in favour of any other State, and the crux of the zollverein issue is whether it is a breach of that undertaking. Gaining free entry to a market of 60,000,000 potential customers, Austria would doubtless reap the greater economic advantage. Some of her weaker industries would be considerably strengthened. Germany, however, would be somewhat benefited, at the expense of Allied countries, in particular Britain, France and Italy, who guaranteed the loan of over £26,000,000 which put Austria on her feet. It cannot be said that the risk of a renewed political rapprochement between Germany and Austria, to the disturbance of Europe, has been outgrown, however desirable it is to forget the war, nor that an economic union would contribute nothing to that risk. Even the fact that the proposal was associated with a general invitation to other nations to become partners in the customs union does not save it from suspicion of possible political abuse inimical to peace. The need for full and frank League discussion is fairly obvious, and it is to be wished that this will be pursued in a calmer vein.