Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1936-12-31
INTERNATIONAL
NEWS REVIEW
By GEORG STRANDvOLD

A couple of days ago it looked as
though the old year was to end with
a terrific bang, but-at least at the
moment of this writing-one received
the impression that calm diplomacy
had reduced the potential explosion
to a mere thud.
One is not yet safe in saying that
the danger of far-reaching interna-
tional complications has blown over,
but there is general feeling that a
tense situation has been somewhat
eased. And what was it all about,
then?
SPANS civil war was at the bottom
of this particular scare. In the first
place, Francisco Franco. generalis-
simo of the fascist rebel forces, seems
to have impressed the German gov
eminent with the fact that he would
not be able to win his revolution
against the legitimate government at
Madrid unless he received foreign aid
in the form of troops. He is reported
to have asked Germany for two army
divisions totaling 100000 men.
An Offer.
TIE listening posts of European
diplomacy quickly heard of this; they
also remembered what had been said
about German support already gi' en-
the Spanish rebels, and they recalled
Germanys conception of TIE Madrid
government as a communist one, link
ing that with Adolf Hitler's amazing
ly outspoken TRADES against Russian
communists some five months back.
So, they sensed danger.
Great Britain and France immed-
lately got busy. For-they reasoned
further-if Germany actually sent
army divisions to Spain, Russia would,
conceivably, also send troops; that
would involve France-these two pow
ers on the side of Madrid. They cal
culated, too, that although Italy re-
Gently has been playing a hands-off
policy in regard to Spain, Mussolini
would no doubt join Hitler in what
ever Spanish adventure he might want
to try, so that, in brief, all the in
gradients of possible European con-
flagration were available.
Under these circumstances, Great
Britain and France rushed an offer
to Berlin; it was not official, and has
been denied, but the general impress
sion is that it was made, just the
same. They are reported to have
said, in effect: If Germany will stay
out of Spain, we may be willing to eX-
tend financial aid to the Berlin gov
eminent, just now quite hard pressed;
they are said to have gone even fur
Their, for the story supposedly recorded
in the chancellories is that they held
out the possibility of Germany getting
her war-lost overseas colonies back
if she would only refrain from action
in Spain.
There may not be any definite re-
ply from Germany for a week or two.
S. s. "PalOs."
While all this was going On-or
said to be going on something else
happened. Spanish government au-
thorities captured the German steam
ship, 'Palos," for the alleged reason
that she carried a cargo of war ma
terial consigned to the rebels. The
Berlin government Indignantly pro-
tested and made a demand that the
vessel, temporarily m ored at the
Bilbao harbor, be released. TIE Span
ish government replied that release
was unthinkable in view of the fact
that the "Palos' had contraband
aboard. Then Berlin threatened re-
prisals the nature of which was not
stated, and Madrid remained firm:
The seizure of the ship was made in
accordance with international law,
and there was nothing to be done
about it-wEatever the consequences
be, they would have to be suffered.
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