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Stratford Evening Post, Volume IV, Issue 159, 17 June 1936, Page 7

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o OTTO OF AUSTRIA MOVE FOR PLEBISCITE. Strong Opposition By Little Entente. COULD MEAN WAR Press Association—Copyright. Vienna, June IS. The Reichpost, the Government's official organ, significantly refers to the possible restoration of the monarchy in an article published to-day. "Should the Austrian Government believe the preponderating majority of Austrian people desires to express constitutionally its wish for the restoration of the monarchy," it says, "then the Government would regard it as a purely internal questie i concerning Austria alone." The Reichspost's rrticle, which is regarded in political circles as the most important Government intimation after the war, emphasises that me restoration of the Hapsburgs will in no circumstances be carried out by a coup d'etat, which is opposed to the Archduke Gtto'tdesire of constitutional methods. Accordingly rumours of a near restoration are unfounded. It is suggested that a plebiscite will be adopted. The Reichspost adds that the Archduke Otto would not claim the throne of any country outside Austria.

Referring to military discussions among neighbouring and other countries, the paper adds: "Every attempt at outside interference will be sharply refused, for no international obligation exists that will prevent Austria from choosing its own form of constitution or from recalling Otto." Legitimist circles claim that Signor Mussolini is behind the move to restore the Hapsburgs, which the Duce and Dr Schuschnigg, Chancellor of Austria, recently discussed. Signor Mussolini aims at mediation between the Austrian Government and the moderate Nazis with the object of removing the German chreat to the Brenner Pass and of leaving Italy freer to make, negotiations with England and France. The suggestion of the restoration of the Hapsburgs will be most strongly opposed by the Little Entente, especially by Jugoslavia, for the Hapsburgs have never renounced their clams to the territory held before the war by the Austro-Hungarian empire. It is recalled that a recent conference of King Carol of Rumania, Prince Paul (Regent of Jugoslavia) and Dr. E. Bones, President of Czechoslovakia, resulted in a report that the three issues that were causing concern and that would possibly lead to military action were the Hapsburg restoration. Italian or German interference in Austria and the revision of frontiers It is significant that Little Entente military .chiefs are.i discussing^measures of concerted action in Central Europe and the Balkans.