Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1933-07-20
INTERNATIONAL
NEWS REVIEW
CONTINUED from Page u

Continued from Page -
export countries of the world to re-
strict their wheat acreage, and an
arrangement by which the temporary
tariff truce will be continued until
some definite plan can be made; ac-
cording to this tariff agreement, the
signatory powers have pledged them
selves not to raise the duty on any
imports for a specified time. that is.
during the London conference. Now
it is hoped that the agreement may
be extended, and the United States,
originating the pact, is fighting brave
ly for extension.
"Peace Treaty."
Altogether. there is an increasing
distrust in international conferences
and treaties. few days ago the So
called Four-Power Treaty was offici-
ally signed at Rome between Italy,
Great Britain, France and Germany.
Since its inception the treaty has UNI
behest of the French government
which did not like the clause-in-
sisted on by Prime Minister MacDon-
aid of Great Britain-paving the way
for possible revision of the Versailles
Peace Treaty of 1919.
1t appears that even expert inter-
pretations of the new-and badly mu-
tilated- Four-Power Treaty agree in
considering it a rather superfluous
measure, for it merely repeats what
has already been said in the Locarno
treaties, in the League of Nations con-
stitution, and in the Briand-Kellogg
treaties against war.
Ostensibly, the newest treaty will
preserve peace in Europe for a per-
iod of ten years-pOssibly longer; but
that ground had already been covered
by the treaties referred to above. So,
the Four-Power Treaty so far can be
considered merely beautiful gesture.
NOn-AggressiOn.
Adroitly and skilfully, Soviet Rus
sia's foreign commissar, Maxim Lit
vinov, nashville in London at the
economic conference-conclu non
aggression treaties with practically
all the nations that are Russia S
neighbors. In effect, the treaties
make it equally impossible for Rus
STA to attack its neighbors, and for
the neighbors to attack Russia. These
treaties are hailed as the outstanding
diplomatic masterpiece of the last few
years, especially in view of the fact
that Litvinov has had to face quite
unusual measure of prejudiced oppo-
sition. He has done single-handed
what international gatherings of
statesmen could not accomplish, and
it is not surprising to be told that
he is mentioned as being in line for
the 1888 Nobel peace prize.
Japan Prepares.
Some months ago it was pointed
out in these columns that Russia's
offer of a non-aggression treaty with
Japan was bluntly rejected at Tokyo;
the Japanese government, weary of
international agreements and, no
doubt, nourishing deep-laid plans for
the future, refused to bind itself by
any agreement which might prevent
telligerent action at a time when
Japan might find it convenient or ex-
pedient.
Disturbing, therefore, is the Tokyo
report that Japan is planning to spend
1OS million dollars 1851 100000 yens)
for naval increases; two 8,500-ton
cruisers, two 1O,000-ton aircraft car
riers, fourteen 1,400-ton destroyers,
eight torpedo boats, six submarines
and one mine layer are to be con-
structed if plans of the navy depart
ment are favorably acted upon by the
cabinet.
American Model.
ParadoXical as it may sound, such
increases are in accord-or said to be
in accord-with the text and the
spirit of the London naval disarma-
ment treaty of 1880 in that the great
powers are permitted to build up to
a certain standard. That standard, it
is claimed, has not been attained in
the United States which, therefore,
will soon spend S23S,00O,000 on new
war vessels and $4,000, 900 on repairs
and improvement of present ships.
Following the American example,
Japan demands the right to arm up
to the permitted standard; this can
occasion no surprise, for it has been
known for some time that Japan has
been dissatisfied with the naval allot-
ments of the Washington 1922 naval
treaties which made the Japanese
navy, in terms of tonnage and gun
caliber, far inferior to those of the
United States and Great Britain;