Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1934-02-15
INTERNATIONAL
NEWS REVIEW
BY GEORG STRANDVOLD

tendency everywhere to anticipate the
future; it is true that no concrete
war causes can said to be in exist
ence-but also true that such causes
may be artificially constructed at al
most any moment and on very short
notice.
What apparently arouses the great
est excitement in this country is the
possibility of a conflict between Japan
and Russia, with the added dim pros
pect of England supporting it's old
ally. the Japanese nation, and the
United States siding with its new
friend, Soviet Russia. So, at least,
the talk runs, and it does assume a
measure of plausibility when one wit
nesses the suddenly large naval in
creases going on in Japan, England
and the United States. and the con-
spicuous parading before the diplo-
matte representatives of all countries
of the Russian army and it's vast war
machinery at Moscow.
Also, the possibility of an impend-
ing war comes closer when one re-
members that the international dis
armament conference still slumbers
on and may, at least as far as ap-
pearances are considered, be taken
for dead.
There is ground for unrest in the
fact that just now the general situa-
ton looks ominously like that exist
ing in the summer of 1914-with the
exception that all armies and navies
are larger now than then, indeed.
larger than ever. For when great
nations arm, they do so not in the
interest of peace; that is something
that is quite certain; so-called pre-
paredness invariably results in war.
Not Yet.
On the other hand, there are in
dications that common sense still eX-
lists in some responsible quarters, and
may stave off a major conflict. At
least, it is conceivable that there will
not be any war for quite some time
gage in combat are not ready, econom-
ically speaking. They simply cannot
afford to start war at this time;
nor is it very easy at the present
moment to see how a cause of war
might be invented, in view of the
fact that practicalts all nations,
through the Briand-Kellogg treaty
and other similar agreements, have
pledged themselves to seek peaceful
settlement of any controversy. That
treaty machinery has to be tested
before the danger of war becomes
actual.
Hopeful Signs.
1t is, then, chiefly with an Asiatic
war that the public in this country
is concerned; one who is familiar
with conditions today is more likely,
however, to point out that greater
danger exists in Europe than in Asia
and here, for the obvious reason that
a series of controversies actually are
in progress beyond the Atlantic, es-
pecially between Germany and France,
Germany and Austria.
There are hopeful signs, too: the
fact that Germany and Poland a short
time ago signed a non-aggressiOn
treaty is one of them, for it elm
mates for a period of ten years at
least the possibility of Poland sup
porting its ally, France, in any war
against Germany; it also has its bear
ing on that inflammable problem
known as the Polish Corridor.
At Athens last week the foreign
ministers of Greece, Turkey, Rou-
mania and Jugoslavia signed friend
ship treaty which unites the four
most powerful states of southeastern
Europe into one solid bloc, pledged
to maintain a peaceful foreign policy:
this group will try to negotiate with
other countries and thus contribute
very materially toward the stabiliza-
ton of the eastern Mediterranean
area. Albania and Bulgaria have
been omitted, but there is a possibil-
ity that Albania may join the treaty
group; Bulgaria seems unable to for
get old hostility with Roumania and
Jugoslavia formerly Serbia), and so
has indicated no desire of joining.
1t is probable that the new Balkan
treaty, linked with the four-power
treaty of last year (between Italy.
Great Britain, France and Germany,
will prove effective in the interest
of European peace. That is, at least,
the purpose.
French Troubles.
During the greater part Of last
week riot. reminding one Of an
actual revolution, occurred in Paris
where about 20 persons were killed
and 1000 injured in the course of
fighting in the streets and on the
barricades.
Edouard Daladier, then recently ap-
pointed premier, had removed from
office the probably most popular man
in Paris, Jean Chiappe, chief of po-
lice, because he was said to have is
sued false passport to Sergei Alex
andre Stavisky, the Bayonne swindler,
whose affairs recently we're uncov-
cred, and whose own death was one
result of the disclosures.
So turbulent were the street battles
that Daladier and his government,
III 1T IN,