Mitteilungen des Österreichischen Staatsarchivs 42. (1992)
NAUTZ, Jürgen: Österreichische Überlegungen zur wirtschaftlichen Integration Europas und zum europäischen Machtgleichgewicht. Die wirtschaftspolitischen Arbeiten Richard Schüllers im amerikanischen Exil 1943–1950
EDITION The Small Nations of Europe I. The small nations of Europe are neither willing able to achieve common defense. The question of their regional federation turns up every time when the post-war settlement of Europe is discussed. It is obvious that a single small country cannot defend herself against aggression from her big neighbours. But the governments in exile either dismiss such plans frankly - e. g. the Norwegian and the Dutch government - or they declare - e. g. the Czechs and the Poles - that they will cooperate economically and politically, but only as “independent sovereign states”, that is to say: without achieving common defense. What are the reasons of this negative attitude? The small nations of Europe have had many conflicts with each other in the course of their history, and they have won their independence by hard struggles. Memories of the past, prejudices and jealousies disturb their relations. Federation with the neighbors is unpopular and likely to cause frictions and difficulties. But even if these psychological obstacles could be eliminated, the small nations would not federate because they do not believe that their federation can be strong enough to defend them against the aggression of a big centralized power. The governments in exile have the opinion in the back of their mindesd that federation is not necessary as long as Germany is disarmed and that later their federation would not be strong enough to protect them. Therefore they concentrate on their immediate aims; they expect the peace treaties to restore the status quo ante, ameliorated as much as possible in their favor at the costs of their enemies. The governments in exile are recognized as Allies by Great Britain and the United States. The restoration of their sovereignty is pledged in the Atlantic Charter. Federated small nations would be stronger in any case than isolated. They will take account of that argument by concluding loose Ententes, similar to the Little Entente existing between Czechoslovakia, Jugoslavia and Rumania after the last war. It became apparent already in 1938 that Jugoslavia and Rumania were not inclined to fight with the Czechs against Germany. Their help would have been in vain. Ententes of the small nations after this war are not likely to be more effective. They can only camouflage the restoration of the status quo. Common defense cannot result from minor devices of cooperation. Federations of the small nations are the less to be expected because those nations consider their risks as very unequal. Hungary e. g. believe that her situation is much less dangerous than of Czechoslovakia. This conviction and the old and new antagonismd suffice to make a federa357
