Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1935-07-11
INTERNATIONAL
NEWS REVIEW
Continued from Page II

(COnt1nueQ from rage ~
opinion is aligned against Italy. From
the Abyssinian capital, Adds Aba5a,
comes the charge that Czecho-Slov-
aka, Denmark, Great Britain and
Belgium are refusing to export arms
and munitions to the government OF
King Halle Selassie, although orders
for such deliveries had been prev
iously accepted.
Great Britain's position is pc
culiar one. Clearly, the British gov
eminent opposes Italian aggression
against Abyssinia. and yet it has re-
fused to support the Abyssinian COM
plants to the League of Nations
council.
After his return from Italy, Cap
tain Anthony Eden, minister for
League of Nations affairs, reported
to the house of commons that while
at Rome he had been authorized by
his government to offer Mussolini a
strip of British Somaliland, with the
understanding that Abyssinia, thus
granted access to the sea, would be
willing to cede a small part OF her
territory to Italy. Mussolini frown-
ingly rejected the offer, and when it
was reported to the house of COM
mons, there was quite an uproar at
"the very idea" that His Majesty's
government without consulting the
parliament could even think of ceding
one square inch of British territory
to a foreign nation.
Next Attempt.
It was explained in London that
the offer, valid no more since it was
turned down, was proposed in the
hope of averting war.
The next attempt contemplated was
an economic blockade of Italy, but to
carry that out effectively French CO.
operation would be needed. France,
however, still incensed because Great
Britain, without asking for permits
agreement with Germany, and desir-
Gus of maintaining friendly relations
with Italy in case of a German at
tack-something extremely remote, by
the way-would not pledge her sup
port to Great Britain.
AS a possibility, although at this
moment distant one, Great Britain's
closing of the Suez canal to Italian
transports, is mentioned. 1t is said
to be under serious consideration, but
that, of course, does not yet mean that
it will be decided upon. Such step
would be a very serious one, for Italy
would without doubt consider 1t a
hostile act.
War Almost Certain.
Unless the League of Nations, or
the Kellogg-Briand treaty, or the in
dividual action of great powers inter-
vene, there is, now a quite definite
prospect of Italy's going to war gainst
Abyssinia. Mussolini himself spoke
quite distinctly in that vein the other
day when he, standing on a heavy
caliber gun at Salerno. declared be-
fore 10000 soldiers ready to be
shipped to Africa, that ''the die is
cast; we cannot turn back; we must
write this new chapter OF heroism
in the glorious history of our coun-
try"
If it is left to Mussolini, there
will be a war. And it does look as
though the decision will rest with
him, and with him alone.
But various indications point to the
probability that active warfare can
not be started until some time in Sep
TENDER. 1t may be that time thus
gained can be employed in the inter-
est of peace. But the prospects are
not very bright.
New Japanese Demands.
Japan, having entrenched herself
in important parts of North China
without firing single gun-covets
more territory IL reports from Shang-
hal and Moscow are correct. 1t IS
said that the Japanese government a
few days ago made tentative de-
mand for all Chinese territory north
OF Shanghai-that is. Japan wants to
control the government of that terri
tory; ultimately to swallow it up and
incorporate it in the new continental
empire now rising under the Japanese
flag.
Also. the Japanese government has
suggested to the Soviet government
at Moscow that it be permitted to
place agencies" in Mongolia in order
to be enabled to keep an eye on de-
velopments. In Russia. which has
sent no reply, this is interpreted as