Austrian Rumours It would be absurd to believe, from a
report that Austria is moving troops into the .Tyrol, that a German invasion is imminent ; but the prominence which is given to such reports reflects clearly enough the pre7 cariousness of Dr. Schuschnigg's Government. Ex- ternally, he has lost his greatest support because of Italy's Abyssinian commitments, and danger from abroad has increased because the success of the Rhineland coup has exaggerated the hopes of Nazi adventurers:, But if Germany were reckless enough to try to over- throw Dr. Schuschnigg it would not be by invasion, but by inciting the Austrian Nazis to revolt. There are enough National Socialists in Austria to make German assistance superfluous. Dr. Schuschnigg's in- ternal position has also weakened recently. The scandals connected with the failure of the Phoenix Life Insurance Company have involved several of his most prominent supporters ;- Prince Starhemberg has declared his loyalty to the Chancellor, but with him loyalty takes the form of threats to resist to the death any interference with the Heimwehr and demands for the removal of two democratic Ministers. In such circumstances, with so many sources of weakness and so few sources of strength, it is not surprising that Dr: Schuschnigg's troops should be showing. signs of unusual activity. Chancellors do not introduce conscription for nothing.
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