TRADE TREATY WITH GERMANY

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLIV, Issue 21001, 1 April 1938, Page 13

TRADE TREATY WITH GERMANY

AUTOMATIC EXTENSION TO AUSTRIA

By Telegraph—Press Association CHRISTCHURCH, March 30.

The scope of the special trade agreement between New Zealand and Germany has, within the last fortnight, been automatically widened to include Austria, now recognised -in diplomatic circles as part of Germany. This is one of several immediate results n New Zealand of the recent political changes in Central Europe according to the German Consul in the Dominion, Dr. Walter Hellenthal, who is visiting Christchurch. Consular representation in New Zealand has not been affected by the change in Austria’s status, Dr. Hellenthal said today. There had preveiously been no Austrian Consul or trade commissioner in this country and Dr. Hellenthal himself as German diplomatic representative also represented the few former Austrian nationals now in New Zealand. One immediate effect of the loss of separate nationality for Austrians has been the automatic invalidity of Austrian passports, and Dr. Hellenthal recently issued German passports to those Austrians who found that the passports they held did not have the backing- of a recognised country. In all there were only about 10 Austrian nationals in New Zealand at the time, Dr. Hellenthal said.

No official action on the part of the New Zealand Government was made necessary by Austria’s new status, Dr. Hellenthal added. Austria simply became automatically a part of Germany which he claimed it always really had been. The trade statistics between New Zealand and Germany would in future include the Austrian figures, and the trade agreement would not in any way need to be altered to include Austria. A similar course had been followed when the Saar reverted to Germany, the new arrangements coming into being automatically. Questioned on the possible difference the inclusion of Austria might have on the Dominion’s trade figures with Germany, Dr. Hellenthal said that he did not think the effect would be very marked. Mainly it would extend the scope of the importations New Zealand could take in return for the goods it sold to the Reich. “There will be peace in Europe now that the peace treaties have gone,” said Dr. Hellenthal. “The Saar had been stormy until it reverted to its proper nationality, Germany, and now all is quiet on the western front,” he said with a smile. Austria was in the same position. It never really had been a separate nation and only the peace treaties had divided it from Germany.