AUSTRIA

refusal of France would prevent the union of Germany and Austria. Any infraction of the treaty entitled the Allies to occupy the right bank of the Rhine. Hence, from the moment that Austria should unite with Germany, the French would be authorized to hold the Rhine. The Austrian National Assembly on October 1st asked the government to resort to a plebiscite on the question of the union of Austria with Germany. There were two main currents of political opinion on this subject: The PanGermanists favored union with Germany while another group recommended union with Bavaria with a view to forming a great Catholic state in the heart of Europe. Both these groups wished Austria to emerge from her isolation, but there were numerous elements that desired neither the one nor the other of these solutions. After the conclusion of the Treaty of Saint Germain, Austria, being reduced to a little state without great resources, was believed by many to be destined to attach herself to the territory of her great neighbor, but the question arose whether union with Bavaria might not be better. On September 12th, Dr. Renner in an address at Salzburg highly praised the Pan-German party, thus indicating that the existing Austrian gov ernment favored the German solution. The proposal of a plebiscite was in the interest of the Pan-Germans, for it was simply upon the question of the attachment of Austria to Germany that the people were to decide and union with Bavaria was not offered as an alternative. From the point of view of the Allies, and especially France, the union either with Germany or Bavaria was objectionable, since it would build up a strong Germanic power and it was argued that both these solutions would come to the same thing in the end. Reports in the press indicated that France while not intending to interfere for the purpose of preventing the plebiscite, did intend to take serious measures to prevent a union that was unfavorable to the principles of the Treaty. In Austria a union between the Socialist parties and the Christian Socialists had prevented the triumph of the disorderly or Spartacide element. This union, however, was a mere alliance and had no solid organization and in the coming elections the choice between the Socialists and the Christian Socialists was to come before the people. Now it appeared that even the Socialists favored attachment to Germany. This was explained by the belief of the Socialists that they would be more likely to realize their theories in a union with industrial Germany than if Austria remained a little isolated agricultural state, for the peasantry in general had no faith in Socialism. The Christian Socialists on the other hand believed that a union with Bavaria which after its Bolshevist experiment of 1919 had become a conservative state, veering, however, toward monarchy, would protect the country from radical Socialist policies. A third element of some importance in effect though not numerically was the monarchist group which worked for the restoration of the old system and desired a union with Germany under any form. An organ of this party displayed a map of the "Empire of Central Europe" and pointed out that this new empire would include North Germany under the Hohenzollerns, a Germany of the West and South under the Wittelsbach or Bavarian dynasty, and Austria consisting of the Southern and Eastern

provinces of the old monarchy, Hungary within its limits of 1914, the Kingdom of Poland within the limits corresponding roughly to those of the old Grand-Duchy of Warsaw, and a federated kingdom of Croatia, Slovenia, Trieste and its environs, with Bosnia and the Herzegovina; the whole to be under the sovereignty of the em peror of Austria who would possess sovereign rights also over an eastern federation including the Kingdom of Ukraine, along with the largest part of Galicia, a Kingdom of Rumania within its 1914 limits along with Bessarabia, and a Serbo-Bulgarian Kingdom. These dreams which attracted little attention in the English-speaking press were made much of by the French in accordance with the policy pursued steadily throughout the year of emphasizing the German peril.

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On the first anniversary of the Treaty a demonstration took place in Vienna in favor of union with Germany and on that occasion a Vienna journal made the following remarks. "Yesterday's demonstrations must not be ignored by the parties who are directing the Entente. signing the peace Dr. Renner expressed the general Austrian opinion when he said it was a grievous peace but a peace nevertheless. It was possible to entertain at that time certain illusions but the experience of the last 12 months had shattered them. No doubt now remains as to the impossibility of continuing to live under the terms of a treaty which has deprived Austria of her rights and cut her communications with the sea. The Austrian population will never consider the Treaty of Saint Germain as a political status governing all her future destiny."

POLITICAL DIFFICULTIES. On June 11th, the Ministry resigned in consequence of the opposition of the Left which accused the Christian Socialist government of violating its pledge in the matter of certain promised legislation, but the immediate occasion of the crisis was the firing of the gendarmes at Epatz on a crowd which was making a demonstration against profiteering in food. A number of persons were killed and it was alleged against the government that it tried to prevent an investigation and the punishment of the soldiers. There was difficulty also at this time as a result of the Bavarian movement in the Province of Salzburg, Tirol, and parts of Upper Austria, which had for its aim the setting up of a government kingdom along with Bavaria under the Bavarian Prince Rupprecht. In the summer uprisings on the parts of the monarchists were threatened and the country was further disturbed by demonstrations against the Jews. The draft of a new constitution was worked out in the course of the summer.

THE ELECTIONS. As a result of the elections on October 17th, the supporters of order and moderation represented especially by the Christian Socialists obtained a clear victory. The figures as published in the press in November were as follows: Christian Socialists, 82, as compared with 63 in the former chamber; Social Democrats, 66 as compared with 69; PanGermans, 20 as compared with 34; Peasants' League, 6; Bourgeois party, 1. Thus both Social Democrats and Pan-Germans lost a number of seats and in the case of the latter the defeat was more noteworthy in view of the vigor of their electoral campaign and their large fund for propaganda. As the above figures show, the Social Democrats fell from first to second place.

There was disagreement between the Christian Socialists and the Pan-Germans in respect to foreign policy, the former being hostile to the Pan-German programme for union with Germany; but an agreement was reached whereby the Christian Socialists were able to form a ministry of which the majority consisted of nonpolitical experts. The Pan-Germans refused to take part in the government and reserved their freedom of action, saying they had consented to this compromise merely in order to insure a majority. The cabinet was constituted as follows: Federal Chancellor and Foreign Minister, Dr. Michael Mayr; Interior and Defense, Dr. Egon Glanz (expert); Education, Walter Breisky (expert); Finance, Dr. Ferdinand Grimm (expert); Food Supply, Dr. Alfred Grunberger (expert); Justice, Dr. Rudolf Paltauf (expert); Commerce, Eduard Heinl; Agriculture, Alois Haueis; and Public Welfare, Dr. Joseph Resch.

On December 9th, Dr. Michael Hainisch was elected President by the National Assembly after three days of balloting, and as the result of a combination of Pan-Germans and Christian Socialists. The new President who was well known as a Socialist writer was elected a member of the Austrian Parliament in 1909. He was born in 1858, and was educated in the universities of Vienna, Leipzig and Berlin.

THE KLAGENFURT REGION. Under the treaty with Austria the people inhabiting the Klagen furt region of Lower Austria were to decide by plebiscite whether to remain under Austrian rule or to join Jugo-Slavia. This district has an area of about 800 square miles and extends some 40 miles along the frontier between Austria and Jugo-Slavia, adjoining the Province of Carinthia. It contains the important manufacturing town of Klagenfurt. Formerly its population was almost wholly Slav, but in modern times the government colonized it with Germans and gradually the Slav population disappeared. The vote which was taken on October 10th gave 221,852 for Austria against 15,096 for Jugo-Slavia. The latter was discontented with the result and certain officers of the army declared that they would not recognize it. Their troops occupied some of the towns in the southern zone.

ECONOMIC DISTRESS. The efforts of the authorities to secure coal and other supplies continued throughout the winter of 1919-20. Unsuccessful efforts to obtain coal from the Czechs and to secure new loans in France were made in February by the Chancellor and his Minister of Finance. The arrival of 93 carloads of supplies in April afforded temporary relief. Prices continued to go up on account of depreciation of the currency and in April a quart of milk cost about $3 in American money. A troublesome condition prevailed on account of the practice of adulteration, and in spite of severe penalties there were thousands of court cases pending in March for that offense.

At the end of 1920 the Austrian authorities declared that if provisions could not be promptly secured, public disorder would be likely to result. The scarcity was reported to be extreme. The country produced only a small part of its necessary foodstuffs and the government lacked the funds for purchases abroad. It was officially estimated that $45,000,000 were required for the period, Sept. 1, 1920, to June 30, 1921, exclusive of the cereal products necessary for the industries (estimated at $11,000,000).

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government had been obliged to centralize the trade in food, and carry it on under its direction. As a result, the Austrian budget for the ensuing year showed a large deficit, estimated at 20,000,000,000 crowns. As to the rate of exchange at the close of the year, the pound sterling, which before the war stood at 24 crowns stood at the end of December at 2000 crowns. Inasmuch as according to the estimates the indispensable purchase of foodstuffs to last until June, 1921, amounted to £32,500,000, Austria would have to send abroad 32,500,000,000 crowns, which would bring the budget deficit to about 20,000,000,000 crowns. Not only were the foodstuffs obtained at an exorbitant price, but they were becoming unobtainable at any price and the country was threatened with a condition that approached famine. Unless long-term credits could be afforded, the distress would become extremely acute. The press of the Allied countries generally favored coming to the assistance of Austria.

AUTHORS' LEAGUE OF AMERICA. This is an association of authors for mutual assistance in the many technicalities involved in publishing and copyrighting, and it supplies confidential information to members in regard to managers, producers, etc. The total membership of the League in 1920 was 1542. The Screen Writers' Guild had 150 members; the Dramatists' Guild had 110 members; and the Guild of Free Lance Artists had 165 members. The Authors' League Fund is a charitable organization to help needy authors, artists, dramatists, or composers. The annual meeting of the League is held on the second Tuesday of April of each year. The constitution of the League was amended at a special meeting held last spring in regard to membership, the amount of dues, and the formation of guilds. Only persons of recognized standing in the literary or artistic professions are eligible to membership in the League. The following were the officers for 1920: The League: President, Rex Beach; vice-president, Booth Tarkington; secretary-treasurer, Eric Schuler. The Dramatists' Guild: President, Owen Davis; secretary-treasurer, Jerome Kern. The Guild of Free Lance Artists: President, C. B. Falls; secretary-treasurer, F. G. Cooper. The Screen Writers' Guild: President, Thompson Buchanan; secretary, Jack Cunningham. Headquarters are maintained at 41 Union Square, West, New York City, and Louise M. Sillcox is managing secretary.

AUTOMOBILES. The extraordinary growth of the manufacture and use of the motor vehicle in the United States continued during 1920. During the year, however, financial conditions made themselves felt in the industry and attempts were made to adjust it to new and threatening conditions attendant on the process of deflation and the abated prosperity in many lines. In some cases it was difficult to finance manufacture and in others there were readjustments of prices to meet changed conditions. Toward the end of the year certain plants shut down or arranged to curtail their output, while the tire industry was seriously affected, many manufacturers all but shutting down. See RUB BER INDUSTRY.

It must be remembered that few industries had developed more rapidly in the United States than those having to do with the manufacture and maintenance of automobile vehicles. In