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

Jürgen Nautz

tion of the two countries impossible. Jugoslavia and Rumania were in friendly relations to the Czechs and the Poles; but they are not ready to share the risks involved in the geographical situation of Czechoslovakia and of Poland.

The great powers are opposed to federations of their small neighbors. Italy and Germany used their influence against the Little Entente; Russia protested against pacts between the Baltic countries.

Now she had forced Dr. Benes and General Sikorski to renounce even the limited cooperation on which they had embarked. Germany, Italy and Russia wish to establish spheres of influence, dominating their small neighbors. Their wishes are often conflicting but it is dangerous for the small nations to act against them. None of the small nations will undergo the risks, the difficulties and the unpopularity of a federation which can be foreseen to break down in an emergency. They will return to the status qou ante with all the former germs of war and some new ones.

II.

The small nations are now conscious of these dangers; they know that “neutrality” does not procure security and that they need the guaranty of great powers against aggression. If the United States and England withdraw from the European continent Germany and Russia are the biggest powers whose policy decides the fate of their small neighbours. The natural consequence is the formation of a German and a Slav block. The Slav block extends to Czechoslovakia in the West and to the Balkans in the South. Czechoslovakia, a Slav bridgehead in the midst of Germany, and Poland, squeezed between Russia and Germany, will be in the most dangerous positions. The Poles though a Slav nation, fear Russia not less than Germany; they will not dare to join one of their big neighbors, but will vacillate between them. The Scandinavian countries will attempt to be “neutral” in spite of their sad experience. Austria, Hungary and Italy cannot be members of a Slav block threatening them and forcing them to the side of Germany. France will be natural ally of the Slavs. There will be many causes of war between Germans and Slavs, though Germany and Russia might perhaps make common cause for some time, dividing the small nations as an easy prey between them. These developments can be stopped and a quite different policy can be initiated, if the United States and Great Britain participate in a system of collective security and make aggression dangerous for the aggressor. The small nations were fervent members of the League of Nations which proved unable to protect them. They want a powerful combination, securing military assistance of great powers. They cannot know if

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