Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1934-04-12
INTERNATIONAL
NEWS REVIEW
Continued from Page ~

larger army; on April %, Assistant
Foreign Minister Fulvio Suvich OF
Italy, will come to London-to talk
disarmament, and Edouard Benes, for
eign minister of Czecho- Slovakia,
will visit Rome for similar purpose
while Monsieur Barthou goes to War
saw, also to see what can be done
about disarmament.
These diplomatic Journeys are con-
sidered evidence that some hope is
still held out for at least a partial
victory of the disarmament idea. But.
| in all candOr-the hope is a pretty
slim one.
Berlin and Paris.
| For France has shown no willing
ness to alter its viewpoints concern
| ing Germany's claims for a larger
| army, and Germany has been just
as firm in upholding this claim.
There has been no yielding. There
is not likely to be any. That, of
course, is by this time an old story
one which will be, in a large meas
use, responsible for the outcome of
the steering committees meeting.
New elements have entered by rea-
son of the possibility that Russia may
refuse to sign any international dis
| armament treaty unless Japan signs,
too. And at this moment, Japan
very cool toward the League of Ma
tions, and considering American
| ne al -,
the mood to sign any agreements that
necessitate an ornaments decrease.
| Nor can it be hoped that matters
will be helped along great deal by
the attitude of the United States, eX-
pressed the other day in London by
| Norman II. Davis, President Roose-
velt's personal ambassadors t-large'
in Europe, for Mr.. Davis declared that
while his government conceivably
might be willing to sign an interna-
tiOnal disarmament convention, il
would be with the reservation that
the government at Washington would
assert the right to determine whether
or not the obligation was to be full
| filled at certain points.
| Reservation.
| 1t is clear that a treaty of the kind
now sought must contain stipulatiors
| for furnishing any nation that violates
the agreement, such stipulations being
| known as sanctions. As far as Mr.
| Davis understood, the American gov
| ernment would be willing to parti-
cipate in economic and financial sane
tions against any violator of the con-
| templated treaty, but only if that gov
eminent itself considered it neces-
| sary TO so interfere; further, the
United States would take no action
until actual violation had occurred !;
| would then investigate, and finally
decide whether or not to participate
| in punitive measures. In spite of an
| American signature being subscribed
to an international disarmament
treaty, the American government
| would not feel bound by it unless it's
own investigation warranted sane
tions.
This statement was given to Sir
John Simon, British foreign minister,
and was not considered encouraging
| because it once more confirmed the
very general impression that Amer
lean participation in attempts to
settle international problems is a
rather vague proposition since Amer
| lea claims for itself separate privi-
leges insisted on by no other great
| powers.
Other Difficulties.
Under these circumstances many a
statesman is ready to throw up his
arms and eXclaim, whats the use?"
Why have treaty when one of the