Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1935-09-26
INTERNATIONAL
NEWS REVIEW
By GEORG STRANDVOLD


world safe for dictatorship Prime
Minister Benito Mussolini of Italy is
being watched with alerness and
worry in almost every country. for
although he is planning to annex only
one nation. that of Ethiopia, it is
alarmingly evident that such aggres-
sion has become a challenge to the
rest of mankind.
! 1t is so conceived in Geneva where
the League of Nations has been try
| ing to stave off the threatening war
and where all exertions to date seem
to have been futile.
Already it has been reported here
that a special League committee was
appointed early this month to effect
a settlement between Italy and Eth
opia- And it did outline plan which
was presented to the Italian govern
ment a few days ago.
"Insuffieient."
Before session of the italian cab
met, comprising thirteen posts, eight
of which are occupied by Mussolini
proposal to the effect that Ethiopia
be placed under international super
vision; that Italy receive considerable
territorial and economic concessions,
and that all reasonable Italian polit-
ical claims be needed.
1t was really going pretty far; as a
matter of fact-some observers be-
| lieve the League committee went too
| far when it undertook the task of
cutting off slice of Ethiopia and
hand it to Italy. But, since it was
done in the interest of world peace,
no serious objection was heard-not
even from Ethiopia itself whose en-
peror, Halle Selassie, declared that
he was willing to accept almost any
thing as long as the war would be
kept away from his country.
Only Rome objected. for the verdict
of Mussolini was that the proposal
did not go far enough: it did not of
fer even a minimum basis he said.
and. therefore, must be considered abb
Solutely insufficient.
Trying Again.
| The Mussolini rejection was a shock
TO the world. It had not really ex-
pected anything else, but to be told
that it had actually come about had
pretty Earring effect everywhere.
There was. however. tiny hope
left: Mussolini had not this time in
Dictated that he might refuse to listen
to any further plans: he had merely
said that the proposal presented in
the League report could not be ac-
cepted. 1t was still time to talk
at least, so his attitude was inter-
preted.
League members began once more
the tedious task Of drawing up some
thing that would appease the Italian
dictator; there were rumors that he
would be permitted to offer Ethiopia
seaport-that is to say. in Italian
territory-and that Ethiopia in gra-
titude for this generosity was to cede
It was even reported that Halle Sell
AISLE might be willing to acquiesce in
such an arrangement provided it
would keep his country out of war.
Next Move.
A few hours later it was learned.
however. that the League committee
had lost its patience and had realized
that it would be in vain to make any
new offers to Italy. for Mussnlini had
strongly indicated that he would be
satisfied with nothing less than the
unconditional surrender of Eth iopia.
and that although he might be willing
to talk about peace. he had made up
his mind. any how. to go to war.
Under these circumstances the
League committee had nothing fur
Their to do than to report back to the
League council that its peace and
Cancellation efforts had failed: the
council in turn. was to take the mat
ter up With the League assembly
which remains in session al Geneva
(CSnttn0ea - P1ge .