Benes & Briand

The French and the Czechoslovak Parliaments, both hotly hostile to Teutons, put their respective foreign ministers on the carpet last week, demanded prompt action to block the customs union which Germany and Austria have announced that they wish to form (TIME, March 30).

In Prague the parliamentary grilling was particularly hectic. Opposition deputies charged that famed Foreign Minister Dr. Eduard Benes ("biggest little statesman in Europe") had been caught completely napping. This seemed to be a fact. A very few days before the Germans and Austrians sprang their surprise, Dr. Benes had been queried about whether he thought anything important was hatching between Vienna and Berlin, had said that he thought not.

Last week badgered Foreign Minister Benes said that he knew all the time what had been going on from secret sources, but that it had been his duty to pretend official ignorance. After roundly denouncing the proposed Austro-German pact, after promising to fight it tooth & nail, Dr. Benes wound up with an oracular prediction that the Teutons will not get what they want. "Not many things are eaten," he said smartly, "as hot as they are cooked!"

In Paris the French Senate, knowing well the great desire of great Foreign Minister Aristide Briand always to get on amiably with Germany, demanded that just this once he should not turn the other cheek.

M. Briand is the master parliamentarian of Europe. He knows when to yield even his peace policies--temporarily. As his famous 'cello voice swelled out over the agitated throng Senators were gradually lulled. In the end they cheered the Master to the echo.

"The Austro-German agreement was a surprise to me," began M. Briand, smarter than Dr. Benes. "But we must place such events according to their proper proportion. The prestige of France is above such incidents! But we should not forget that Germany's manner of acting was not good.

"Immediately I learned the terms of the accord I telegraphed our diplomatic representatives at Vienna and Berlin . . .; we told Austria that she had no right to make engagements contrary to the treaties and the convention of 1922.

"Let us say frankly that if the treaties [of Versailles and St. Germain] are not loyally executed then there will be no safeguards for the security of Europe [Cheers].

"This affair undoubtedly marks suspense in our relations with Germany. If you will allow me to remain in my post I promise to obtain promises that Germany and Austria will respect their solemn engagements."

In Austria, where the powerful Christian-Socialist party of Monsignor Ignaz Seipel is opposed on principle to even economic union with Protestant Germany, the menacing reactions of France and Czechoslovakia produced an abrupt, startling result. For a few days at least almost the whole press got behind Austrian Foreign Minister Johann Schober, champion of the pact. He was able to talk big and bold. He threatened to appeal to the Hague Court.

In Berlin. Dr. Schober's colleague in drafting the pact, Foreign Minister Julius Curtius of Germany, grew even bolder. He flatly rejected a proposal by Foreign Minister Arthur Henderson of Great Britain that the whole question of whether Germany and Austria can, without violating their treaty obligations, form a customs union, be put up to the League of Nations.

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