Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1934-01-18
INTERNATIONAL
NEWS REVIEW
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American navy from the Pacific to
the Atlantic ocean early next spring.
Treaty Efforts.
And again occasion presents itself
for referring to the Russian idea of
maintaining world peace through
treaties. Some time ago it was
learned that the Soviet government
and that of Poland had suggested to
the Baltic states, that is. Finland.
Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia, joint
treaty guaranteeing the continued in
dependence of these republics. Po-
land, however, made its adherence
contingent upon express endorsement
by the four states involved, and in re-
Spouse to this Finland declared that
such a treaty must be considered SUI
perfluOuS since aggression
treaty had already been signed be-
tween the government at Helsingfors
and that at Moscow.
So, at this point Russian pacific
moves were halted. Probably the
real reason for Finnish opposition
was the fear of becoming involved in
European affairs upon a large scale
since it was, as it seems, surmised
that the Russian suggestion had been
indirectly, at least-prompted by a
French desire to consolidate a num-
Der of nations in an alignment
thought to oppose any aspirations
which the Germany of Adolf Hitler
may have.
To fully appreciate this viewpoint
it should be recalled that among the
particular friends of France are Po-
land, Czecho- Slovakia. Roumania and
Jugo-Slavia.
FrancO.RuSsian.
Defeat as this frustrated attempt
really was, Russian diplomatic STRAIT
egg was victorious in another direc-
ton, for France and the Soviet states
commercial treaty which is Of special
interest for the reason that while it,
of coure, concerns itself with mutual
trade privileges, it's Importance is
considered political to a large extent.
1t really means that while Russia
and France are not once more formal
allies, they are, at least, friends, and
just now friendship is what France
needs to continue its campaign
against Germany. One clearly sees
to what extent French diplomacy goes
for the principal purpose of isolating
Germany, circumscribing German po-
litical influence throughout Euroi e.
Just now, Germany has only one
pretty good friend, and that's Italy.
How strong the bonds of friendship
really are may not become evident,
unless a crisis puts it to a test.
DecapitatiOn.
And speaking of Germany one
pauses a moment to record the fact
that Marinus van der Lubbe, Dutch
communist Supposedly SO, anyhow
last week was decapitated at Leipzig
for having confessed that he on Feb
ruary 81, 1888, set fire to the build
Dutch government had tried to inter-
cede In favor OF a Communication OF
the death sentence, but to no avail.
Likewise, the government at the
Hague had asked in behalf of van der
Lubbe's relatives that his body be
sent to Holland for burial at Leyden.
No attention was paid to this request,
and van der Lube was unceremon-
iously buried in German soil.
On the basis of evidence presented
during a trial lasting for three months
there is, perhaps, no doubt that van
der Lubbe actually set the fire. But
his motive in doing so was not made
clear, nor was it ever established to
the satisfaction of anyone whether he
was influenced by communists or by
the nazists National Socialists), SO,