No World War In Austria Seen By Langer for Immediate Future

"There is no great chance of a European war developing directly from the Austrian crisis," William L. Langer '15, Coolidge Professor of History, predicted last night as he told an audience of 200 in Adams House that it is doubtful whether the Rome-Berlin axis can survive the strain Hitler's latest move has placed on it.

Pointing to the suppression of free speech and independent political parties, Professor Langer stated that Austria has been virtually a Fascist state since 1934. The question of "On whom shall she be dependent?" precipitated a deep-lying feud between Mussolini and Hitler, only glossed over by recent Italo-German amity, he said.

Chancellor Schuschnigg's "harebrained proposal for a plebiscite" either entitles him to go down to posterity as "one of the great asses of history," Professor Langer stated, or else indicates he was encouraged by some outside influence.

Austria Pro-Nazi

He intimated that probably more than half the Austrians, although admitting no faith can be placed in a plebiscite sponsored by either Hitler or Schuschnigg, welcome Nazi domination. In commenting at the close of the speech, Sidney B. Fay '96, professor of History, contended that Nazi support has dwindled from a possible majority two years ago to about 40 per cent today.

As he traced the historical background of the Hitler coup, Professor Langer pointed out that the separation of Germany and Austria effected by the Versailles Treaty was a flagrant violation of the self-determination principle, dictated by France's fear of a reborn Germany. Eventual union was inevitable, he said.

Will Hitler Rest on Laurels?

Of Czechoslovakia, Europe's "danger spot," Professor Langer said, "We can hope that Hitler will rest on his laurels." One possible solution might lie in drastic revision of the war-born state's constitution, he said, since Slovaks as well as Germans have been clamoring for autonomy.

"European diplomacy since 1919 has brought collective security to ruin," Professor Langer concluded. "Right is still on the side of the strongest."