INTERNATIONAL: Big Egg?

Back in Vienna last week was spectacled, modest Austrian Chancellor Kurt von Schuschnigg carrying, from his head-to-head with Benito Mussolini at Venice, nothing more tangible than a rueful expression (TIME, May 3). To let off steam Chancellor Schuschnigg promptly ordered the arrest of 20 “provocative” Nazis, announced truculently that “there will be no coalition with Nazis in Austria.” Thus he shrugged off the Italian suggestion that Austria’s Nazis should be represented in the Fatherland Front, Chancellor Schuschnigg’s party.

Back in Rome was Mussolini preparing a brotherly welcome for Nazi Air Minister Colonel-General Hermann Goring who was all set for a cozy three-hour chat. Because the meeting was “unofficial” no communique was published by II Duce but the capitals of Europe were soon buzzing with reports that Italy had promised to support eventual Nazi domination in Austria; that the two bigwigs had talked freely about their most pressing common problem, Spain; had discussed schemes for helping each other to achieve “economic independence.”

Their two hearts beating as one, II Duce bade farewell to General Goring, reportedly promised to visit Dictator Hitler in June or July, sat back to await the arrival of two other potent Germans, Foreign Minister Baron Constantin von Neurath and War Minister Marshal Werner von Blomberg. Quickly commented Mussolini-mouthpiece Editor Virginio Gayda, of Giornale d’Italia: “Nothing in Europe without Italy and Germany. Nothing against Italy and Germany.” It looked as though an egg of unusual size were being hatched in the Fascist incubator.