Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1935-08-29
INTERNATIONAL
NEWS REVIEW
~ GEORG STRANDvOLD

Recently your ODStISoT Oh tulIlSS
international has been roaming about
bit and. away from his desk, seen
much evidence proving that interest
in foreign affairs is considerably
greater than he, sitting at his desk.
ordinarily dares to presume; also it
was found that the question upper
most in nearly all minds was: Will
there be war between Italy and Eth
opia? Not only that, but in a great
many instances that was the very
first question fired at the traveller.
When Anthony Eden, now British
minister for League of Nations af-
fairs. a couple of months ago re-
turned to London from one of his
numerous continental peace jaunts.
he, confronted with the very same
question, replied:
That. gentlemen, is in the lap Of
the gods" In other words, Captain
Eden felt quite uncertain about the
outcome of the Italo-Ethiopian crisis
which has been hanging fire all
through the spring and summer.
QHSCI SILL pei SlSlS,
even in circles having the best in
side information. but it must be added
that the certainty of war, each day
becomes more and more manifest.
Ramific atiOns.
Horror-struck as a supposedly civil
lied world is at the prospect of any
threatening war, the pending conflict
in Africa causes a panicky fear-not
because the world is so profoundly
interested in a clash between Italy
and Ethiopia. but because it realizes
that the ramifications and the rever-
berations of such a war are we'll nigh
incalculable. Already there are ON
inous rumors of what may happen
if Italy actually attacks Ethiopia one
of them having to do with Great Brit
aims reported plan to bottle up" the
Suez Canal thus obstructing Italian
transportation of troops, arms, NUM-
tions. and foodstuffs. British ships
are lowering in the offing, silently
giving warning that Italy may not
be permitted to go too far.
And right here one of the great
dangers of complications looms up.
for the Italian prime minister. Benito
Mussolini. has bluntly declared that
any nation applying sanctions-that
Is. restrictions or punitive measures
will be met by the armed hostility
of Italy"
Is this an actual threat, or is it
merely the bluff of desperate dicta-
tor? II is too early to answer. but
one may believe that Mussolini will
hesitate before he tries to twist the
British lions rather sensitive tail
which has been known to strike hard
if the twisting becomes powerful.
British Attitude.
Nothing very decisive resulted from
the extraordinary session of the Brit
ish cabinet last week-that is, moth
ing of that nature was published ex-
cept the already known determination
to try to prevent the Italo-E Ethiopian
war. 1t also became known that Great
Britain is willing to support any
plan to apply sanctions against Italy
which the League of Nations council,
meeting Sept. 4. may adopt.
Even before that meeting opens.
Great Britain is making preparations
for any emergency: The garrison on
the island of Malba is being strength
ened: warships are stationed in the
Mediterranean near strategic points
on the coast of Africa and British
bombing airplanes are being sent to
Egypt and Sudan.
Inexplicable Is the British attitude
when one recalls that earlier in the
year all Ethiopia's frantic appeals for
League of Nations intervention were
met with the most frigid indifference
in London. Had Great Britain then
supported the Ethiopian plea it is
very possible that the conflict would
have been minimi1ed.
Like all great powers. spending tax
payers money on the creation of huge
armies and navies. Great Britain
ostensibly wants peace In view of
the elaborate arming which has been
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