The Crisis in Austria Dr. Dollfuss' Note to Germany on
that country's open intervention in Austria's internal affairs through the open encouragement of the anti-governmental Nazi party in Austria is an event that might easily have consequences disturbing for all Europe. That Germany will give the Austrian Chancellor satisfaction is altogether unlikely. His last resort then would be to appeal to the League of Nations, which clearly could not -decline to hear the plaint, but which would find itself gravely embarrassed in face of an aggression which is not military in character and consists mainly in propaganda, but also in part in giving aid and comfort to Austria's internal enemies. This country, France and Italy are all in different degrees and for different reasons opposed to any development equivalent to the absorption of Austria by Germany, and from many points of view a general declaration of. policy by them, coupled with such measures as each . of them may find possible for helping Austria .economically (Italy could help by providing a physical outlet for Austrian goods to the Adriatic and France by admitting the Austrian timber she is now excluding), would be
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preferable in this case to an appeal. to a League Connell on which Germany declines to sit. If the question does go to Geneva, firm declarations by those PoWers arc essential. But diplomatic representations at Berlin arc likely to be tried first.
