Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1933-06-08
INTERNATIONAL
NEWS REVIEW
Continued from Page u

ment. That's really the only thing
Geneva has done since the opening of
the disarmament conference in Febru-
airy of last year-to decree vacations.
| Now, this is not merely facetious
7remark, for one must in all fairness
recall the wistful fact that the dis
armament problem is one of the most
complicated in existence, and that the
ardent believers in disarmament con-
stantly are running up against the
strongly natiOnalistic elements which,
so far, seem to rule wherever diplo-
matte opinion is voiced at information
al conferences. One cannot close his
eyes to the disappointing fact that
| there are similar possibilities i'm store
at the London conference. The coun-
tries which send delegates, will most
likely be prompted by overwhelmingly
selfish interests.
Peace on Earth.
What may facilitate the work of
the London conference, and-a few
weeks hence-that of the Geneva con-
ference is the fact that at the present
moment no wars are being waged
anywhere on our globe.
China and Japan have agreed on the
question of an armistice, and all hos
tilities have ceased for the time being.
This means that actual peace negoti-
atiOns may be started soon; it also
means that Japan will demand to be
considered the victor.
Bolivia and Paraguay, two South
American nations who have fought an
unofficial and very bloody war for
the purpose of determining the right
of ownership to the Gran Chaco dis
trict also have Laid down their arms,
pending negotiations for armistice and
peace.
Likewise, Colombia and Peru have
SOlemnly decided not to resort to arms
in order to settle the problem of the
ownership of the Letizia harbor re-
giOn.
1t was through no action on the
China and Japan agreed to stop fight
ing. 1t is true that the League did
all it could do; it is equally true that
it was all in vain, for all inform alton
concerning the Asiatic truce lends
credence to the rumor that it was
arranged between the two combatants
without any outside interference.
On the other hand, the League was
actively instrumental in stopping the
acknowledgement warfare and in
averting serious armed clashes be-
tween Colombia and Peru.
Thus it is in a rather auspicious
atmosphere that the London confer
ence will open next Monday. There
is no war, official or unofficial, any,
where on earth at this moment-that
is, no military war. Economic war
fare is as bitter as it has always been |
during recent years.
State and Church.
There is also a conflict pending |
between the principle of state and |
that of church.
In Spain, the two-year old republic
an government has declared active |
war on the Roman Catholic church;
has confiscated property of that
and has deprived the monks
and nuns of the privilege of teach
ing children. Response from the Holy /,
See was instant and drastic, namely,
a document stating that the pope had
all members of the
Spanish government and parliament.
1t looks like an intellectual and spirit
ual war to the hilt between state and
church in that country which former
ly was referred to as the realm of
His Most Catholic Majesty, the King
of Spain.
In Germany somewhat similar
is in progress; it is not, how
ever, question of modern atheism
fighting the tenets of the ancient
church, but rather a problem of which
political group shall dominate the
The socalled .'Landeskirch"
national church-which claims ev-
angelistic doctrines, has elected as
the first bishop of the realm the Rev.
Friedrich Won Bodelschwingh who hap
pens to be in opposition to the reign
ing party, that of the Hitler National
Socialists. And the Hitler govern
ment asserts that the ruling bishop of
Germany should be in complete har-
mony with the ruling party. So, Mr..
Won Bedelschwing's election is most
likely to be contested by the German
fascists, and the press is filled with
statements and counter-statements