Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1935-08-29
INTERNATIONAL
NEWS REVIEW
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in progress ever since the disastrous
disarmament conference in Geneva
began. the sincerity, back of the wish
| for peace may be questioned, and in
the light of certain great-power
treaties, formerly referred to in this
column, one may look with some sus-
piciOn at the British attempt to pre-
serve peace in Ethiopia, for it is
clearly not for the sake of peace it.
self that Great Britain suddenly
shows concern, but, it seems, chiefly
because British interests in Africa
may be endangered by war and be-
cause Italy may swallow up bigger
slice of Ethiopia than the bargain of
1906 called for.
American Neutrality.
Much comment has been aroused at
/ the far-reaching neutrality law passed
by the United States congress last
week. In general it is conceded to
be a wise move, as far as it goes,
but it will be recalled that the United
States in 1914 took similar steps and
still-in April, 1917-became actively
involved in the World war. Thus, it
may be suggested that neutrality
when put to an actual test may not
mean much. Aside from that, how
ever, is the fact that the United States
| has missed a most splendid oppor-
tunity to halt the now threatening
war, for, on July 4, Ethiopia asked
for statement by the American gov
eminent as the principal author of
the Briand-Kellogg treaty against
war-a statement condemning Italian
aggression as direct violation of that
agreement. The United States, how
ever, confined itself to some evasive
remarks about the desirability of both
Ethiopia and Italy preserving peace.
Had Uncle Sam at that time spoken
the stern, authoritative word expected
of him-of Uncle Sam the protector
of oppressed peoples; of Uncle Sam
who sacrificed his sons for the sanct-
ity of the principle known as self
determination of the peoples"-if
Uncle Sam had pointed out to Italy
that an aggressive war against Eth
opia would not be tolerated, it is very
likely that Mussoiini would have soft
peddled his policy, and that no need
for declaration of American neu-
trality would have existed.
EthiOpia's Fear.
While the impending war is taking,
as it now seems, definite shape, Eth
Opia realizes the nearness' of the dam
ger hour, and a few days ago Halle
Selassie, king-emperor, issued a pro-
clamation containing instructions to
his people; they were told to flee
at the sight of hostile airplanes, and
to hide themselves in the mountains
until the danger had passed. Several
residents of Adds Ababa, the nations
capital, already have sought security
in distant regions, and as the civilian
population thus prepares itself against
war, the army takes steps to resist
the expected invaders.
Ethiopia still nourishes the hope
that the League of Nations council,
somehow, will be able to avert the
war, but all other countries seem to
feel pretty gloomy about that pros
pect.
And, in the meantime, the minds
Of millions are filled with the ques-
ton: Will Great Britain permit an
Italian attack on Ethiopia?
AS these lines are being written,
70 nCft ov-1r
U. S. and Russia.
No war threatens to disturb the re-
lations between the United States and
the Russian Soviet government, but
a diplomatic rupture is not improb-
able as the result of certain recent
happenings.
From time to time glimpses of what
went on at the recent communist in
ternatiOnal congress in Moscow have
been given in this column, and it be-
came quite clear that the congress
was seriously upset about the pre-
valence of fascism in the United
States; measures to combat it were
discussed, some of them adopted, and
gradually it dawned on William
Christian Bullitt, American ambassa-
dor at Moscow, that what was said
and done rightly constitute Russian
violation of the treaty upon which
American recognition of the Soviets
is predicated. One article, especially,
was in question. viz, that treaty Sec
tion which restraints Russia from car
rying on anti-American propaganda
in the United States and which, also,
forbids the formation or residence"
in Russia Of any group which aims at