17 JANUARY 1936, Page 2

Dr. Schuschnigg in Prague The visit of Dr. Schuschnigg, the

Austrian Chancellor, to Prague, and the conversations to take place there; are, according to official explanations, to be concerned entirely with commercial questions. There is no reason to doubt this explanation : it may be hoped, indeed, that it is strictly true. Dr. Schuschnigg certainly desires to modify, to Austria's advantage, the balance of trade between the two countries, which is heavily in Czecho- slovakia's favour. If such a modification can be achieved by an increase of Austrian exports it will be a real con- tribution to a solution of Austria's difficulties. But equally, such discussions must raise, in some form or other, the questions to which the abandoned plan for a Danubian economic unit was meant to find a solution. If Dr. Sehuschnigg's visit means that, Italian help having proved insufficient or undependable, he is turning from a political to an economic escape from Austria's troubles, it is much to be commended. A commercial agreement with Czechoslovakia would, if achieved, be of more permanent worth to Austria than any political patronage to be obtained from association with Italy,