Austria's Struggle The past week has produced an appearance of
increased stability in Austria, but that means little more than that. the threatened crisis has at least been postponed. The Socialists are broken and powerless, but they are still numerous in Vienna, and a good 'deal may depend on whether they respond to Dr. Dollfuss' open and genuine attempts at conciliation or throw themselves in resent- ment into the hands of the Nazis--which seems less probable than it did. Prince Starhemberg has been pro- claiming the death of democracy, but the Heimwehr leader's views on anything but the military efficiency of his own irregular force are not of great value. The real conflict' is external, the fight between Germany and Italy for the body of Austria. Italy still holds the advan- tage, the more so since her projects would not compromise Austria's independence to the extent that the realization of Germany's desires would. The meeting at Rome this month between Signor Mussolini, Dr. Dollfuss and General Gomboes, the Prime Minister of Hungary, will be an event of importance, even though the discussions are ostensibly confined to the question of closer economic relations. If Italy could reconcile herself to giving disinterested assistance from the background, and so avoid antagonizing the Little Entente, the general outlook would be more hopeful. Meanwhile the report of the League of Nations' representative in Vienna on Austria's financial position is encouraging.
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