Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1934-03-15
, INTERNATIONAL
NEWS REVIEW
Continued from Page ~


anyhow. The disarmament confer
ence in Geneva, opening more than
two years ago, still remains in state
of suspended animation, and there rs
no prospect whatsoever that ANNA
tion will be restored. AS much was
admitted when the League of Nations
a few days ago published the CORES
pondence which Arthur Henderson,
the president of the disarmament con-
ference, has been carrying on with
the British, French, German and Ital-
ian governments. 1t showed the utter
futility of all action in the direction
of reduced and limited ornaments;
it also illustrated the complete i'm
potency of idealists in the face of the
concrete unwillingness of governments
to cut down their armies and navies.
AS though that were not enough 10
convince, most certainly the vast
naval appropriations sanctioned by
national assemblies in the United
States, Japan, France and Great Brit
ain within the last few weeks and
days, must dispel all doubts as to
the real intentions of the great pow
ers. The real intentions are war.
Armies and navies are not built up
for the sake of peace.
War RumOrS.
In these columns it has been as
serted time and again that all talk
about the imminence of another great
war lacked foundations; much of it
was inspired by direct propaganda
for the purpose of creating active in
terest in the huge naval and military
appropriations. Just at this moment,
war rumors are silent. Why? Be-
cause they have served their one pur-
pose-which was to stimulate legis-
lative activity.
Another reason may be the fact
that the nations need time to develop
their gigantic war machines; they
are not yet ready to fight; they have
to build up to treaty strength first;
when that goal is accomplished, they
are ready to strike.
Will they then? That must remain
question for some time to come.
One thing is quite sure, and that is
that armies, navies and air fleets
are not built just to be mere toys
with which nations can amuse them
selves. They are created for rea-
son, and since you do not maintain
peace by preparing for war false
claim contradicted on every page of
history-the one unacceptable, logical
conclusion is that ornaments are be-
ing perfected for service in another
clash of the nations. Why else?
Core of the Apple.
Try as you want to, you cannot
get away from this topic of arma-
ments. 1t absorbs all intelligent in
terest of the moment. 1t fills the
columns of the daily papers in all
countries of the world. 1t worries
the friends of peace, it disturbs the
sleep of the statesmen, it fills with
glee the hearts of the manufacturers
of arms and munitions.
If France and Germany would agree
on an armament policy, matters might
look more cheerful. France is not
WILLIS, HOWCNCI, W 81 ait
any army increase, and Germany will
not return to the League of Nations
or to the disarmament conference
without a definite assurance of mill
tary equality with other powers. So,
there you are. This is the deadlock
that has stopped the disarmament
movement and lent speed to the mad
ornaments race now in progress.
And now France comes along and
blames the United States for failure
to prevent the German rearmament
efforts; it does seem a bit far-fetched,
but may not be wholly without reason.
for no power engaged in increasing
its own navy at rate never before
seen in peace-time history, is in posi-
ton to speak with authority to an