THE FUTURE OF AUSTRIA
SIR,—F. A. Hayek asks in his article about the "Future of Austria " whether Austria deserves so much consideration as his reflections sug- gest. If Austria really is the important peace factor as many statesmen believe, it deserves much consideration not only for its own sake but foi the sake of peace. There can be little doubt that the tragedy of Germany started when the centre of gravity shifted from Vienna to Berlin. It would be therefore a logical prdcedure to restore the ancient position of Vienna as a bastion of Christian culture. Without the active
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help. of the Allies another Prussian stronghold will regain domination by means of bullying as it happened in the past.
If the Vienna broadcasting station were to be used at once as the only transmitter to influence, educate and entertain those who speak German in the right spirit, controlled by the Allies, re-education of Germany could be hoped for. There are still Austrian born Anti-Nazi announcers, teachers, scientists, actors and singers who could be em- ployed for this purpose. Film production and book publishing, a pre-war German monopoly of evil design, could follow later. Vienna was still an international centre of art and medicine between the Great Wars, and this "invisible " export together with the tourist traffic alleviated greatly the adverse balance of the country. If the Allies want to avoid another " Berlin " to rise and to become the symbol of Prussian arrogance and aggression, an effective counter-measure seems to be to make Vienna again a spiritual centre for the German speaking nations.-1 am, yours
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