Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1934-12-27
INTERNATIONAL
NEWS REVIEW
By GEORG STRANDVOLD

AS the year now draws to a close.
it is tempting to let some of its high
light events in the international field
pass in retrospect; it is, of course, i'm
possible, to even attempt to give de-
tails-all that can be done is to hint
at certain happenings, merely to re-
fresh the memory of the readers.
In Europe the year has been a
rather turbulent one; it began in Ger
many with the execution of Marius
van der Lubbe. convicted of having
set fire to the Reichacag building the
previous year. In June the massacre
of German nazi leaders, allegedly I'M
faithful to the standards of national
socialism, took place, and couple of
months later ancient President Paul
Won Hindenburg died whereupon Chan
cellor Adolph Hitler had himself ele-
waited to the position of 'Reichsfue-
Intentionally, leader of the realm.
Aside from a serious conflict between
government and church, conditions in
Germany in recent months appear to
have been comparatively quiet.
Assassination.
Much suspicion was directed toward
Germany, accused of wanting to eff
feet a consolidation with Austria, and
the assassination-in July-of Chan
cellor Engelbert Dollfuss, of the lat
ter country, gave rise to anti-German
outbreaks; earlier in the year bloody
risings had taken place in Vienna and
other Austrian cities, but as the year
now GIBBS out Austria has secured the
pledges of support from Italy and
Hungary in case of a German agrees
sion-now no longer seriously feared,
however.
MuSSOlini.
At the beginning of the year it was
quite evident that Benito Mussolini,
flushed with the JOY of triumph from
having carried out-during 1933-his
plans for four-power treaty, wanted
to try to play first violin in the or
chestra of European politics. He has
not reached that goal, but it may be
to his credit that he rushed troops
to the Italo-Austrian border immed-
lately upon the Dollfuss assassination.
thus, probably, averting International
clashes.
Restless France.
In France political life was this
year, as nearly always before, like
quicksilver; bloody riots in Paris
early in the year resulted in the ap-
pointment of the CASTOR Doumergue
nj 20
make way for a ministry headed by
Pierre-Etienne Flandin. No matter
what party has the upper hand in
France-there is always one outstand-
ing feature of political activities, and
that may be named, militarism. 1t
was evidenced during the closing
months of this year, too, when heavier
appropriations for the army than ever
before, were voted by the chamber of
deputies. France insists that heavy
arming is necessary for the sake nf
the peace of Europe and-for French
national security.
Alexander and BarthOu.
On French soil one day in October,
Alexander, king of Jugo-Slavia, and
Louis Barthou, French foreign min
lister, were assassinated by a Croat
fanatic who lost his own life on this
occasion. The tragic event had SER
ious repercussions, for Jugo-Slavia
formally charged the government of
Hungary with completely, based on
the alleged fact that the plot to MUIR
der Alexander was Matched on Hun
garian soil. For a few days excite
ment ran high in Europe, and there
was-in the American daily press
much talk about an impeding war.
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