Paris and Central Europe The visit of M. Milan llodza,
the Czechoslovakian Prime Minister to Paris, must be related both to the chance gathering of Eastern European statesmen in the French capital last week, and to the recent visit of the Austrian Prime Minister, Dr. Schuscbmigg, to Prague. A certain rapprochement between Austria and the Little Entente powers is undoubtedly making progress, with the active support of France and the full approval of Great Britain, in spite of the confusion of declarations and dementis attributed to Prince Starhemberg. If, however, an interview with the Prince published in Tuesday's Daily Telegraph may he taken as authentic, as it. no doubt may, his real attitude is perfectly realistic and sensible. While in theory a monarchist, he declares that the monarchy question must be ruled outside dis- cussion at present because " our immediate object must be to bring about closer co-operation between the Central European countries " ; and of those countries the Little Entente States are irreconcilably opposed to a Habsburg restoration. Altogether there seems to be a better opportunity than has presented itself for some time for Stabilising the situation in Central Europe through under- standings, primarily economic but ultimately political, between Austria and her immediate neighbours. In that understanding both Germany and Italy must be included, provided they entertain no dreams of political dominat ion.
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