Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1935-01-03
INTERNATIONAL
NEWS REVIEW
Continued from Page ~

Anyhow, the stories are widely cir
culated throughout the Saar and, no
doubt, with some effect Yet, there
is-now as the new year dawns-a
pretty definite impression that the
Saar will return to Germany from
which it was forcibly separated as a
result of the Versailles peace treaty
o. 1919.
Naval Treaty.
About two weeks ago the imperial
Japanese government decided to de-
nounce the navel treaties of Washing
ton of 1922 and of London of 1890
that is, Japan declared she would no
longer be bound by those treaties
which stipulated the tonnage of the
big-navy powers. The denunciation
became official when notification was
given the American and the British
government last Saturday.
1t does not mean any immediate re-
sumption of a move to increase the
size or tonnage of navies, for the Jap
anese denunciation cannot become eff
fective until December 81, 1886, but
it does mean that if any further ne
gotiations about regulating the navies
are to be looked for. they will have
to be on an entirely new basis.
Japan protested stubbornly against
being considered an inferior power
and just as stubbornly the two wes-
tern nations insisted that the future
peace of the world hinged on Japans
remaining inferior. From the very
beginning the final conferences in
London, often discussed here, we're
characterized by an unwillingness to
compromise; deadlock was created
early, and it remained until the very
last.
japanese Demands.
It is we'll to remember what was
the thesis of Japan in this connec-
ton: Japan demanded an all-around
reduction of big navies; was. indeed,
willing to reduce her own navy by
so per cent-if only the others would
do the same, and if they would assure
Japan of parity. But, although the
preparatory conferences at London
there were a good many of them dur
ing 1934-aimed at limitation of
navies, the actual aim was an in
crease Of navies, and to that Japan
would not accede-in fact, the Japan
csc government has made it clear all
the time that it's understanding of
naval disarmament" was a very lit
eral one-provided that the other
powers would concede her parity de-
mands. Experience-in Washington
in 1922 and in London in 1890
showed that when the western pow
ers spoke of naval disarmament they
meant the opposite. Proof? The
navies of the United States, of Great
Britain, of France and Italy are big
ger than they have ever benin
spite Of all ostensible "scrapping"-
of obsolete ships!
Security Pact.
During the year just passed there
has been a pretty general clearing Of
skies, internationally speaking. At
the present moment no thunder cloud,
threatening an immediate lightning
bolt, is hanging over the world.
Great Britain is taking advantage
of this rare opportunity to launch, as
yet unofficially, plan calling for a
European security pact by which var
ious groups of nations pledge them
selves to combat whatever danger Of
war may threaten
There are said to be various definite
purposes of the plan: One is to elm
mate for all time the hostility be-
tween France and Germany; another
is to obtain a permanent reconcilia-
ton between Jugo-Slavia and Hun
gary, incensed at each other since the
Belgrade government charged the
Budapest government with completely
in the murder of King Alexander; a
third is to make effective whatever
guarantees of Austrian independence
which have already been given. In