Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1935-06-27
INTERNATIONAL
NEWS REVIEW
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To heal the split caused by the
German wedge between Great Britain
and France, Captain Eden went TO
Paris the other day.
French Resentment.
He did not have an easy job on
hand, for it became his mission 10
first of all assure the Pierre Laval
government that Great Britain was
as friendly as ever: then to overcome
the French resentment caused by the
fact that Great Britain, without con-
sulting any other power, had effected
an agreement with Germany; and fin
ally to break down the French re-
sistance to all efforts directed at
changing the Versailles treaty. That
document is the hottest of all holy
things to Frenchmen. for as long as
it is literally respected, paragraph
by paragraph, France feels secure
against Germany. At the moment
that tinkering begins, France becomes
nervous, as, indeed, she did when the
German government three months ago
proclaimed rearmament on land and
now again when Germany, aided and
abetted by Frances own dear friend
and wartime ally, England, prepares
to build a navy which, when COM
pleted, will be not much smaller than
the French itself!
There were earnest conferences be-
tween Captain Eden and Prime Min
lister Laval and the upshot was that
France, with a number of reserva-
tions, accepted in principle what
Great Britain had done, on the ground
that agreements such as the British
German might pave the way for an
all-around international treaty reduc-
ing the naval strength of all the great
powers
Laval, however. did not hesitate in
pointing out emphatically that Great
Britain had violated the Versailles
treaty just as effectively as had Ger
many. What he did not say anything
about were French violations of that
treaty-some of which have been duly
recorded in Berlin.
On to Italy.
Having completed his conversations
with Laval. Captain Eden travelled the
seven hundred miles to Rome to dis
cuss matters with Prime Minister
Benito Mussolini and Fulvio Suvich,
under-secretary for foreign affairs OF
Italy.
Eden gathered that the Italian
viewpoint was identical with the
French to the extent that Great Brit
aims signing an agreement with Ger
many without consulting other powers
constituted an act of arrogance and
irritation But in Rome as well as
in Paris the viewpoint was prevalent
that whatever opposition was voiced
had for its goal the manner in which
the agreement was contrived, fal
more than the agreement itself
French and Italian statesmen are
wise enough to know that Germany
cannot permanently be kept off the
sea. but they simply didn't like the
idea of England going ahead without
asking them. They were peeved-
and that's about all there is to say
about their attitude.
When Eden had found out in great
detail what Mussolini had to tell him
he left Rome for Paris where he, as
said above. is due today. A new con.
ference with Laval will be followed
by Eden's return to London where the
cabinet will digest his impressions
Mo
the United States and. possibly
Japan. for the purpose of salvagins
the pet British idea of an interna
tional naval conference.
Advice to MussOlini.
1t is not matter of official record
as yet. but is generally believed that
Eden while in Rome had been charged
with another delicate mission, name
ly. to present as forcefully as HI
might the British view of MussOlini'!
aggressive policy against the Eas
African kingdom of Abyssinia. Fol
reasons of her own Great Britain i
opposed to an Italian war agains
Abyssinia, one factor being the al
legged secret Franco-British-Itali
treaty providing for a tri-partition o
Abyssinia whenever the right" mo
ment is at hand: another the fea
that 1taly's influence and power II
Africa may become too menacing il
case she vanquishes King Halle Sci
asSie's troops.
England does not want that war
and Abyssinia doesn't. In fact. III
other day Abyssinia once more ap
pealed desperately to the League o
Nations council in an effort to stav
off an Italian attack: the League
african ear" so far has been at
flicted with chronic deafness.
"Grave Insult"
In his hectic quest for pretext
that would justify offensive warfar
Mussolini dug out few days ago a
incident which he dignified by havin
his diplomats characterize it as
grave insult" This was it: An in
toxicated Abyssinian. prompted by
mixture Of alcohol and ardent patriot
ism. had torn flag off the car |
which the secretary to the Italia
Iri, Oh