Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1935-04-18
INTERNATIONAL
NEWS REVIEW
CONTINUED from Page ~

for the conception of methods by
which to limit German Influence
varies a great deal. France has in
sisted on drastic measures; Italy has
been on-committal, but with a trend
in the direction of disapproval of Ger
man rearmament: Great Britain has
been feeling for some time that Ger
many ought to be permitted to attain
partial military equality with other
continental powers.
Won Over.
For tactical reasons. Italy and
Great Britain toward the close Of the
Stresa conference permitted it to be
known that they would support the
French accusation against Germany
for treaty violation; apparently the
price of this concession was the de-
mand for French pledge not to press
the matter too strongly-not to ask
for penalties, and that explains the
fact that the French charge could be
characterized as rather moderate"
1t almost had to be, too. For the
position of France is by no means
out, time and again, as late as
this week, also. that France was
the first to violate the military
clauses of the peace treaty. Those
stipulations were to the effect that
Germany was to be almost totally dis
armed as a prelude to the beginning
Of general disarmament-all the CO.
c;r - ha Unr o%r xlo
ing themselves under obligation to
reduce their ornaments. None has
done SO. They have all added to their
ornaments, on an almost unbeliev-
able scale, and France has taken the
lead from the very beginning. That
assertion forms the nucleus of the
German defense before the League
council.
Principal Points.
The three powers at Stresa also
found it necessary to re-affirm the
fundamental principles of the Locarno
treaty Of 1925, guaranteeing the peace
of western Europe. That document is
to be matched by a socalled eastern
pact which will preserve peace In
eastern Europe.
Germany-during the conference
announced that she would be willing
to sign such an eastern pact, but with
the express understanding that she
would not be called on to furnish mill
tary support in case of conflict be-
tween the signers and an aggressor.
By making this announcement the Hit
Ter government opportunity receded
from former standpoint, for it had
been steadfastly maintaining that it
would adhere to no agreements as
long as Germany was not considered
the equal of ether powers.
AS result of the German declara-
ton plans were perfected at Stresa
for a conference at Rome on May 20,
and on this occasion the following ma
tions will be represented: Italy,
Great Britain, France, Germany, Po-
land, Austria, Switzerland, Rumania.
Czecho-Slovakia and Jugo-Slavia.
Austria's Fate.
Officially the gathering at Rome
will be known, it seems, as the Dan
largely, with the fate of the countries
through which the Danube river runs.
Also the problem of Austrian in
dependence will come before the con-
ference, and most likely Germany will
be urged to pledge herself not to i'm
terfere in any way with the present
status of her world-war ally. Whether
will
may depend upon the quality of what
the other powers may have to offer
the Berlin government in return. The
diplomatic game is one of give and
take, and statesmen never concede
anything without compensation in
some form or other.
Bilateral Treaties.
OF great Importance is the distinc-
ton between multilateral and bilat-
eral agreements; the former cover
treaties signed by a group of nations;
the latter those entered into by two
nations only. Each is said to have
its own distinctive advantages.
Thus at Stresa it was agreed that
France and Italy might conclude BIZ
lateral air treaties, and that similar
treaties might be effected between
Italy and Great Britain; that will
simply mean an interlocking of mu-
tual support arrangements.
Nothing specifically was said con-
corning the Franco-Russian alliance
now in the making, but it would be
in line with the general attitude of
Stresa to draw the conclusion that
such a combination would meet with
no serious protest
Anyhow, French Foreign Minister
Laval IS planning to go to Moscow
next week, and it is reported that he
and his Russian colleague, Maxim Lit
vinov, will then sign the new accord.
No Great Changes.
1t cannot be maintained that the
Stresa conference resulted in any very
material changes in the European pic
ture, for the situation remains Just
about as it was before, the only diff
ference being that some of the pol
icies have now found formal express
sion. The important central fact was
Germany's rearmament. That has not
been altered. Rather, it has been ac-