Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1936-08-20
INTERNATIONAL
NEWS REVIEW
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appears to be Ringing upon defini-
ton of the word neutrality. At the
present moment the tendency is to
consider merely a government neu-
trail, but not necessarily its citizens.
Conditioned.
This explains that British manufac-
turers unhindered are able to sell and
export military airplanes to Spain,
pleading that they violate no spirit
of neutrality since they sell to the
government as well as to the rebels.
This, too, explains that Germans and
Italians are fighting on the side OF
the fascist rebels; they feel they are
not bound to abstain as the result OF
any neutrality in principle" whatever
their respective governments may feel
about it.
Early this week Great Britain de-
clared itself willing to enter into an
agreement with France not to sell
arms and munitions to either of the
belligerent groups in Spain-that is,
on condition that Germany, Italy. Rus
STA and Portugal would follow the ex-
ample. AS far as Russia and Portugal
are concerned, there is little doubt
that they will accept the agreement,
but it is still considered uncertain
whether Germany and Italy are will
ling, for in Berlin and Rome the Span
ish civil war is believed chiefly an
effort which, if successful, will ad-
vance the cause of fascism.
Climax Approaching.
| From all accounts, the civil war is
increasing in ferocity and intensity.
Until now the government troops have
succeeded in keeping the northern
and southern rebel armies away from
Madrid, but word comes that those
two units early this week effected a
consolidation and that they, jointly,
will begin an offensive movement in
the direction of the capital.
Within the last few days the rebels,
apparently having replenished their
air forces with foreign-made planes
have begun bombarding tact C S
against positions still held by the
government, notably San Sebastian
and Almendralejo. In San Sebastian
the loyalists declared that if the bonn
bardment were repeated every one OF
the 700 rebels there held prisoners
would be summarily executed; in fact
it seems as though mass executions
are going on right along-on both
sides. There is no disposition to ask
for or to give quarters, and in very
many cases capture is synonymous
with almost instant death before fir
ing squad.
Foreign powers, including tie
United States. are still trying to re-
move their nationals from the revO-
lution-infested country into safe
places, but surprisingly many of them
prefer to remain where they are.
French "New Deal"
Just now France has a government
much like that of Spain; it is COM
posed of representatives of democratic
liberal and radical parties and headed
by Leon Blum, socialist; generally it
is known as the Popular Front gov
eminent, and when it came into power
it promised the people a lot of New
DEAL reforms.
To a rather amazing extent the
promises have been fulfilled-not all
of them, but good many-within a
period of ten weeks, and when the
parliament recessed few days ago
for its summer vacation, it could
point with much justified pride to the
fact that sixty-five new Laws initi-
ated and sponsored by the Popular
Front government had been enacted.
Some of the reforms carried through
by recent legislation are these: Labor
obtained forty-hour week, the right
to collective bargaining, paid vaca-
tions; the largest arms and munitions
plants in France were appropriated
by the government in order to elm
mate that coveting Of heavy profits
which character es the private arm
aments industry, and which, as the
record shows, always has been a pow
erful incentive to war; the government
rescinded the 136-year old charter of
the Banque de France and took away
from it's 200 wealthiest stockholders
the actual control. While the gov
eminent does not own the bank, it
now has decreed it's right and it's in
tention to manage it through board,
majority of whose members are to
be appointed by the cabinet.
Also, there has been a noticeable
revision of the tax system; school age
for children has been prolonged;
prices are regulated by the govern
ment, etc.
When one recalls the turbulent con-
ditions prevailing when the Leon
Blum government was installed on
June 4, one cannot help but feel that
the record is if not unprecedented
| still most unusual.