NEWS OF THE WEEK THE fact that the situation in
Austria is superficially calm cannot justify much optimism. Prince Starhemberg himself has .made it clear that he anticipates another Nazi putsch better organized than the last, and no doubt his conversations with Signor Mussolini during last week-end bore on the possibilities such an attempt might open up. A good deal will depend, no doubt, on how completely Germany withdraws her support from the opponents of the existing regime in Austria. The fact that the Austrian legion in Germany has been broken up and its members distributed in Labour camps is a good sign, and the notorious Munich broadcasts have not been in evidence in the past week. Austria, which has been awaiting Herr von Papen with frigid reserve, will soon have an opportunity of discovering what his mission portends. Meanwhile the treason trials are continuing in Vienna, and four policemen were hanged on Tuesday. There is clear proof that a section of the force was deeply implicated in the attempt of July 25th and further capital sentences may follow. With the more violent Nazis there can at present be no reconciliation, but that only makes the need of some rapprochement between the Government and the Social- ists the more urgent. .
