Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1935-04-25
INTERNATIONAL
NEWS REVIEW
CONTINUED from Page ID

of Germany's rearmament policy was
unanimously carried.
Reply From Berlin.
Immediate German reaction was eX-
pected in the form of what was called
a sizzling note. But Germany was In
no hurry to answer-let a few days
go by while Adolf Hitler pondered
the situation. When he had studied
it long enough, he issued his retort.
timing it to appear on his 46th birth
day when his popularity was attain
ing new heights.
HitlerS reply was masterpiece OF
diplomatic brevity, for in three short
paragraphs he disposed of the Geneva
resolution by maintaining that the
governments which appointed them
selves judges of Germany" had no
right to condemn that country; that
their resolution constituted IAN at
tempt at new discrimination against
Germany" and therefore must be re-
jected lin the firmest manner" and
that the German government reserved
to itself the right to make known
in the near future its views OF the
situation in greater detail than now.
Foundation of Reply.
Naturally, the basis of the German
rejection of the Geneva resolution
was the well known counter charge
that the powers which accuse Hitler
of having violated the Versailles
treaty had done the very same thing
themselves. In other wOrds-Ger-
many feels that she was dragged to
the bar as an alleged treaty violator
by nations which themselves were
treaty violators. And just now the
German press does not forget to point
out that among the accusers were
France, Great Britain, Italy, Russia
and others who have violated equally
solemn treaties concerning payment
of their wartime debts to the United
States; for that reason, it is con-
cluded, it comes with pretty ill grace
that these powers continually speak
about the 'sanctity of international
agreements"
Germany feels, according to the
leading Berlin newspapers, that the
tendency is to demand obedience to
treaties on the part of Germany, but
to say nothing about any or all other
nations ignoring and completely dis
regarding such pacts.
In the end, nothing has come out
of the conferences of the last few
weeks at London, Paris, Stresa and
Geneva: Germany's rearmament,
merely announced or actually accom-
plished, remains an unaltered fact
in spite of all the diplomatic activity
that has been going on.
Alternative.
That is understood, too, at London,
Paris, Rome, Moscow and the other
major European capitals. 1t is real
lied that nothing can be done about
it, so new approach to the solution
of the problem must be sought.
Strangely enough, while German arm
aments increase fills the Old World
with holy horror. little is being said
about the at least equally threatening
menace of all the other powers arm
ing themselves as they have never
before done. 1t seems to be accepted
as a truism that Great Britain,
France, Italy and Russia are build
ing their enormous armies and navies
solely in the interest of peace; when
Germany follows the example set by
the others, it is, of course, for the
purpose of precipitating a war.
&c. something must be done about it.
There is the method of forming
new international alignments - a
method which, according to the rec
ords of history, invariably has led
to war: France and Russia are lead
ing the procession of powers which
believe that their strength and secur-
ity must be found in alliances, but
right now they are not completely
agreed as to some Of the important
details. They do agree that they are
profoundly interested in anything
which will make the German war ma
chine harmless.
Other Moves.
That basic idea is back of the ne
gotiations in progress between Russia
and Czecho-Slovakia this week, the
immediate objective being the con-
clusion of a non-aggression treaty.
That same desire to immuniZe Eu-
rope against German attack is back
of the increasingly fervent protesta-
tions of friendship between France
and Italy: Two thousand French sol
diers visit Rome and are received
with ostentatious enthusiastically
the diplomats of the two countries
carry on negotiations about a treaty
which will result in pledge of mu-
tual aerial aid in case of war.
Again, the fundamental claim about
the German menace appears in con-
versations between Italy and Austria
In short, all moves of this kind
have for their one and only purpose
the restraining of supposed German
ambitions.
There are indications that the ALI.
ance movement may produce a Ger
man counter action. for rumors are
rife that the Hitler government ID
considering an approach to Poland
and that Poland is not entirely un
willing to respond. Such rumors