Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1936-12-03

INTERNATIONAL
NEWS REVIEW
BY GEORG STRANDvOLD


with potential danger to the rest of
Europe, far more menacing is. from
one viewpoint. the fact that Japan
and Germany finally have admitted
that they have signed treaty based
on common hatred of communism, and
that means, of course, communism as
exemplified by the only country where
it has ever been practically app led
namely, Russia. One particularly
Ominous circumstance in this connec-
ton is the. widespread suspicion that
the treaty contains secret clauses
which commit the two signatory pow
ers to join arms in case of war with
Russia. There is, also, that rather
disturbing possibility that Italy, Au-
stria and Hungary may join the two
signatory powers. And, there you have
the beginning of an organized fascist
lineup against the Franco-Russian
combination, for Russia cannot be at
tackled without France being drawn
into such a conflict since these two
countries have built for themselves a
mutual-assistance alliance.
Sore Spot VaniSheS.
The news of the treaty between
Japan and Germany came on the very
day when the Russian government had
committed the death sentence of E. 1.
Sticking, German engineer found
guilty of sabotage, to ten years i'm
prisonment. The German government
made a lot of noise about the death
sentence and limited rather strongly
that no communication might mean a
diplomatic rupture between Berlin and
Moscow. Russia backed down-nOt
prompted by fear of Germany but, evil
IDENTIFY, because the time for creating
an international upset is not quite
propitious just now, and, furthermore,
Russia has always made it clear that
disturbances will have to originate
in some other country.
Right on the heel of the treaty
and the communication news came in
formation that Russia has completed
it's northern railroad all the way from
Moscow to Komsomolsk, several hun
dred miles north of Vladivostok; this
road runs parallel, in most places,
with the older Trans Siberian rail-
road, and Russia Is now in position
to transport without difficulty vast
masses of troops to the Far East-in
case Japan should want to start trou-
BILE. This new road may make both
that country and Germany bit diff
dent about becoming aggressive too
soon.
Russian Constitution.
Of great moment in the history of
the day is the ratification by all the
All-Russian Congress of the new Sow
let constitution which in it's implied
democracy is one of the most far
reaching documents of the kind in
existence. 1t follows the general lines
of other constitutions, but goes beyond
them where it stipulates that the gov
eminent guarantees to each citi en-
the right to work and to rest, and
undertakes to provide such social aid
as is generally not experienced in
other countries. Equal suffrage for
men and women above Is is feature
of the new fundamental law, as is the
provision that henceforth all elections
of members of parliament Shall be di-
rect; the parliament is bi-cameral.
Politically, the constitution is ham
dicapped by the fact that it recognizes
the existence of only one party. That
may be the strength of modern Rus
STA, but it makes political freedom
somewhat illusory, and not wholly un-
like the system prevailing in, for in
stance, Germany and Italy. 1t is in
it's social aspects that the Russian
constitution is of Importance, for here
it signifies the very elimination of
development extending over the last
nineteen years. 1t should be added
that the law guarantees freedom of
thought, faith and conscience, as we'll
as freedom of press, speech and as
sembly-within the framework of the
one-party system. One has to bear in
mind that the American Bill of
Rights, much like that of Russia
now, contains similar guarantees
which have rather often been open
to more than one Interpretation.
Friends of the Russian people every
where express the hope that the new
guarantees are to be. understood liter
ally and not to be jeopardized by legal
iStic intrigueS.
Spain'S War.
Because of the German-Japanese
treaty, the Sticking case and the
Soviet constitution Russia has been
much in the foreground during tf e
last few days. But those events do
not obscure the fact that the Spanish
civil war still goes on, still centers
about Madrid, the capital city. There
seems to be among the fascist rebels
a tendency to think that it will be
we'll nigh impossible to lombard the
city into submission, and for that
reason much talk is now being heard
about its being starved until it capitu-
lates; the immediate aim of the rebel
strategy appears to be to cut off all
Madrid's lines of communication so
as to prevent foodstuffs from reach