GERMANY AND AUSTRIA

Hokitika Guardian, 24 March 1931, Page 6

GERMANY AND AUSTRIA

PROPOSED CUSTOMS UNION. [United Press Association.—By Electro* Telegraph.—Copyright. 1 LONDON, Mm rcli 22. The announcement, that Germany and Austria have arranged a Customs Union has caused surprise at Paris. There is no official comment in the absence of exact information, but some of the French newspapers declare that the arrangement is simply a tariff ■onion, and that it infringes the Treaty of St. German and .similar Australian agreements. Representatives of Frame, Italy and Czechoslovakia visited Herr Schober, the Australian Foreign Minister, and pointed out that the agreement infringed the Geneva Protocol of October 4th, 1922. Herr Schober noted the protests, but be contended that the agreement, could be reconciled with the Protocol. (.Received 10.15 a.in.) BERLIN. .March 23. Nationalists hail the Austro-Gennanv customs union as the first step to a complete union, but Government circles emphasize' it as a non-political character and claim it does not involve the violation of the Peace Treaty, or protocol. It is estimated the Union will extend Germany’s internal market by 10 per cent, and thus, he a tonic lor industry.