Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1933-07-06
INTERNATIONAL
NEWS REVIEW
CONTINUED from Page ~

the British embargo on Russian i'm
ports had been raised, as had the
Russian embargo on British imports.
So now everything is lovely.
1t remains to be said that the re-
sumption of British-Russian trade re-
lations, although having nothing to
do with the economic world confer
ence except in so far as the gentle
men who conducted the conversations,
are all delegates, is the only concrete
result which to date has been achieved
at London.
Distractions.
Naturally, a world gathering Of this
kind continues to attract, almost ex-
clusively, the attention of all nations.
And as the weeks go by, doubt as
to the final outcome of the conference
becomes increasingly evident. There
are too many distractions, and there
is too little willingness to disregard
purely nationalistic motives. Each
nation wants to look out for its own
interest and finds it difficult to
think in terms of the world as a
whole.
There were three conspicuous goals
to be attained by the economic world
conference, namely, the adjustment
of the inter-allied war debts; the
sterilization of currencies, and the
elimination of high tariff walls.
From the beginning the United
States objected to any discussion of
the war debts, but the subject crept
into some of the opening speeches.
after which it disappeared from view.
AS for sterilization, the attitude OF
the American government has been
expressed by President Roosevelt who
feels that it is question of merely
secondary interest. Increasing en-
ployment and rising commodity prices
should be considered far more i'm
portant-at the present moment.
Countries, still retaining the gold
standard, have, seconded by Great
Britain, appealed to the president of
the United States to alter his view
point, which, however, he has refused
to do.
Finally, with respect to the level
ing of high tariff walls nothing has
been done, except that the American
delegation has formulated very gen.
eral statement favoring downward
tariff revision.
Interdependent.
European powers feel that you can
not raise prices; you cannot increase
employment; you cannot facilitate
general commerce.; you cannot do
away with tariff barriers before some
agreement on currency sterilization
has been attained They also feel
that a revision of war-debt agree
ments is essential, but for the time
being have accepted the American
demand for silence regarding this
point.
| In other words, just now the life of
the international economic conference
hinges upon the question of currency
sterilization which Europe wants to
discuss, and which America refuses
to discuss.
In the mean time all reports agree
that business conditions in Europe
show no sign of improvement while
American business is on the upgrade.
Some argue that American progress
in this field cannot be maintained un-
less there is a corresponding march
ing ahead in Europe. Others claim
that American business conditions
are independent of those of the Old
World; in an era like the present the
| LOT fofn a a
of shortsightedness.
Hitler Control.
While economic problems are up
permost in nearly all countries, the
German government appears anxious
to becloud them by forcibly placing
spiritual questions in the foreground
Chancellor Adolf Hitler who within
few months has made himself the
lord and master of nearly all func'
tions and organizations in Germany
now aspires- Roman Catholic that he
is-to become the head of the Pro.
testant evangelical church. He OBJ
jected strenuously when DR.. Fried.
rich Won Bodelschwingh, Lutheran
prelate, some time ago was elected
evangelical bishop of the country; by
recently appointing minister of his
own party bishop of Prussia he ig
nored the authority of DR.. Won Bodel
schwingh who then Immediately re-
signed
Hitler whose aim is to crush al
forms of opposition to his policy, feel:
that the church-like all parties ii
the political field-must be subserv
lent to his wishes. He has eliminated
all parties save his own; he now want:
the control of the church placed il
the hands of the one remaining polit
: ical party, his own nationalsOcial
istic.
But august President Paul Won Hin
, denburg has found it necessary t.
'. warn his rash and ruthless prime
minister against employing too dras
tic measures; in published lette
he asks Hitler to go easy, and to b.
careful that he does not "jeapardiz
national unity" by his methods. And
: mighty Hitler has deferred to tn
D wishes of his superior, for he i'm
: mediately took steps to begin serie
of conferences between government
officials and. church representatives
While he NAV attain his ultimat