Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1936-01-09
INTERNATIONAL
NEWS REVIEW
Continued from Page -


out by well-informed London opinion
to the effect that all plans for oil
sanctions hove been dealt a very SER
ious blow by the American presidents
message. A further confirmation of
the supposition is cleaned from cabled
excerpts of editorials in the Italian
newspapers which agree in express
ing satisfaction with Mr.. Roosevelt's
announced policy. In view of this
Italian approval it means but little
that Paris seems to hold contrary
opinion, namely that the message has
paved the way for effective oil sane
tions.
But, entirely aside from American
statements, the fact remains that the
prospects of oil sanctions are as dim
and distant as they have always been.
They may be discussed when the
League of Nations council meets on
January 20, but even if it should be
decided to stop oil exports to Italy.
no one is optimistic enough to be-
lieve that the embargo can ever be-
come complete. And--an incomplete
embargo is exactly as bad as no en-
barge at all
Strained Relations.
REWRITING to the actual battlefield.
there has been only one important
event transpiring recently, and it
turned out that it wasn't quite as i'm
portant as was thought at first blush.
Anyhow, it has caused strained rela-
tiOns between the Swedish and the
Italian governments, and there has
been some talk of diplomatic breach.
That, however, is subsiding.
A first report from Ethiopia was
to the effect that Italian aviators had
bombarded a Swedish Red Cross sta
ton and killed nine Swedish doc
tors and ambulance assistants; also
that some fifty Philippians were killed
on the same occasion.
Later on it was learned that bonn
bardment of the Swedish Red Cross
camp admittedly hac, taken place, but
that no Swedes were killed and only
% Philippians instead of the so orig
inally reported. Still later news came
that one of the Swedish doctors who
was wounded by Italian bombs had
died couple of days afterward.
Intense Indignation swept Sweden,
and it was found necessary to post
extra guards in front of the Italian
legation in Stockholm; from the king
down, the Swedish people expressed
hitter
Italian government was moved to Of
fer an apology which was given in a
somewhat sneering form, and which
set out the claim that when Ethiop-
ians seek safety in tents marked with
the Red Cross of international mercy,
Italian aviators coulG, not be expected
to tell the difference between Eth
opians and Swedish Red Cross work.
ers; furthermore, the Swedes were
asked to kindly realize that it is al
ways a little more dangerous to stay
on battlefield, than to stroll up and
down the streets of Stockholm.
One retort to that final blast was
the official Swedish announcement
that the Red Cross station was far
removed from any battlefield and
from any military camp.
Aerial War.
In spite of almost universal indig-
nation Italian aviators continued to
lombard Red Cross stations-one sent
by Egypt, for instance-and it seems
to have made no impression on the
Italian government that Ethiopia has
sent an official complaint to the
League of Nations. Whether it will
make any impression there, is not
known. So far, no League action has
been taken as a result of the protests
against Italian violation of interna-
tional law.
Things are not going so good for
the Italian army in Ethiopia. Several
reports indicate that they have been
driven back from many positions on