Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1933-06-01
INTERNATIONAL
NEWS REVIEW
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newspapers and politicians once more
revived the traditional horror at the
thought that the United States by CO
operating with the rest of the world
would surrender its independence.
Four.POwer Treaty.
Equally cool was the reception
meted out to the temporarily initiated
four-power treaty-that agreement by
which Great Britain, Italy, Germany
and France undertake to preserve
peace in Europe for period of ten
years. 1t was found to contain a lot
of Inconsistencies, and too many loop
holes through which great-power
domination of smaller countries might
become a not very remote possibility.
There is not now any certainty that
the parliaments of the four nations
will actually ratify the treaty; if they
do so, it will be only when elaborate
reservatiOns-that reduce it to prac-
teal nothingness-h been made.
In connection with the disarma-
ment conference and with the four
power treaty, France is the author of
the most serious obstacles placed in
the way of accomplishing results;
therefore, burdened with RESPONSE
bility which it may be difficult to
Justify to later generations.
London Conference.
There are optimists who believe
that something concrete may result
from the Geneva negotiations but
the pessimists form the majority, so,
if the old saying is correct that the
only true prophets are the pessimists,
the outlook is not reassuringly bright.
Something better may be expected
from the world economic conference
which will open in London on June
of the United States has sounded a
warning note, for he feels that un-
less the Geneva conference succeeds
in doing something effective before
June II, prospects of the London con-
ference are not any too good. He
feels-and rightly So that you can
not discuss the suspension of an eco
nomic world crisis without consider
ing that one of its original causes
which consists in tremendously heavy
ornaments, and ornaments tax, bur-
denS on the nation. There is, accord
ing to Mr.. Roosevelt, an organic con-
nection between the two conferences
and London will not succeed if
Geneva doesn't. Tha: is, there may
be a measure of success to be eX-
pected from London, but it will be
only partial and if ornaments are
not to be limited and reduced, the
world will soon be back at its old
troublesome problems.
American Fear.
There is in some Washington quar-
tiers fear of British maneuvers prior
to the opening of the economic con-
ference, for Great Britain lately has
been conspicuously busy concluding
commercial treaties with Germany,
the Argentine Republic, Denmark,
Norway and Sweden also strengthen
ing the agreements resulting from the
imperial conference at Ottawa last
summer.
1t is felt that Great Britain is de-
sirous of securing as many advan-
tages as possible before there is any
talk of concluding general agreements
comprising all nations, and this at
titute is not considered hopeful here.
Of course, at the London confer
ence the world will see, as it has
seen it at all other international gath
erings, very little of the spirit of
genuinely helpful cooperation, and
much of the bitter rivalry prompted
by primitive warnings for getting
the best of the other fellow. Usually,
such conferences are not noteworthy
by their spirit of sacrificing for the
sake of mankind as a whole; each
participant looks out for his own ma
tional interests first of all. Each
nation wants as many privileges, as
many new advantages, as possible.
Going to Europe.
Yesterday the American delegation
to the London conference left-headed
by Secretary of State Cordell Hull
aboard the steamer President Roose-
welt, which is due to reach England
five days before the opening of the
meeting. With the delegation travels
staff consisting of scores of tech
nical advisers, experts in economic
problems, statisticians, stenOeraphers,
secretaries, clerks, and others. Ex-
actly what the American contribu-
ton to the conference will be, is not
known now, but the chief executive
considers that gathering a serious