Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1935-10-24
INTERNATIONAL
NEWS, REVIEW
Continued from Page IL

(COntlnueO from rage ID
are to the effect that the Ethiopians
are planning to meet them face to
face in order to prevent the enemy
from getting too close to Adds Ababa,
the capital city.
In the southeast the Italian effort
appears to be concentrated about the
one Ethiopian railroad line, connect
ing Adds Ababa with the port of
Djibouti in French Somaliland, and
thus with the outside world. All ac-
counts indicate that the fascist army
has met resistance which at this
point is fiercer and harder to over
come than they had expected.
AS matter of fact, complaints are
sion is proceeding too slowly to suit
Dictator Benito Mussolini, and it is
being made even more difficult to
carry out because heavy rains are
again internationally falling; disease
is said to be taking it's toll among
the Italians, and the Ethiopian SOL
diers and tribesmen fight with a
death-defying courage which exceeds
the advance fears of the invaders.
There are some indications that
heavy fighting may have started, or
is about to start, this week after
several days of relative quiet.
Diplomatic Decisions.
Bloody is the war under the trop-
ical sun of Africa; bloodless that
which is being waged, with pen and
tongue, by League statesmen at Gen
eva and Rome.
Fifty-two of the League members
have now voted to apply economic
sanctions against Italy, but the step
is ineffective for the time being; in
the first place this sanction can COM
prise only the League members them
selves unless the United States, Ger
many, Japan and Brazil signify their
intention of joining in this penalty.
In the second place, the machinery
is too cumbersome and inflexible, for
while the sanctions have been voted,
they cannot become effective until
some time after October 81 on which
date meeting is to fix the moment
for starting the sanctions. This may
mean, if the proceedings are per-
mitted to linger, that Mussolini will
have plenty of time in which to SWal-
low up Ethiopia. Sanctions are effec-
tive only when applied drastically
and instantly, and by all. In this
,,fp
is the destruction of about 20 per
cent of Italy's foreign commerce,
since, as mentioned above, at least
four large nations have not yet indi-
Gated that they will take part. If
they do not, Italy will be able to get
all she needs-and to sell all she
needs-to or through these nations.
Alignment.
AS often pointed out here, France
has been the uncertain element of
the present crisis, for the Laval gov
eminent has wanted to preserve its
friendship with both Great Britain
and Italy. Finally London lost pa
thence and said bluntly to Paris: 1T
is not now, both and but it is
either Or You must choose. Will
you go along with Great Britain and
the rest of the League. or do you
prefer to support the Italian agrees
sion?"
Thus pressed. France at last
yielded and declared herself willing
to follow the British and the League
lead, but-there are always plenty of
butts" and "ifs" in French diplomacy
Great Britain must make some con-
cessions, too. Well, Great Britain is
reported to have responded willingly
that she may. as France at the behest
of a greatly irritated and annoyed
Italy had suggested, withdraw some
of her warships from the Mediter-
ranean; also, Great Britain had to
promise France that she would not
attack Italy unless authorized to do
so by the League itself-that is, in
case that organization finds it neces-
sary to proclaim military sanctions
against the aggressor.
In Rome conferences between Mus
solini, the British and the French am
bassadors are taking place daily; it
is said that Mussolini may talk
peace" on certain unrevealed condi-
tions, and it is also learned that