Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1936-07-16
INTERNATIONAL
NEWS REVIEW
By GEORG STRANDvOLD

Ethiopia ceased to exist as a coun-
try few weeks back when the Italian
flag was VIGOROUSLY unfurled in Ad-
dis Abada. Yesterday the League of
Nations approved the extinction of the
Ethiopian nation by definitely lift
ing the sanctions against Italy, and
Great Britain, solicitous for the fate
of small states as long as British in
terests are not jeopardized, called her
fleet back from the Mediterranean
sea.
Thus Ethiopia ceased to exist not
merely as a state but also as an in
ternational problem; thus Ethiopia
played her part as an interlude in
the slow-moving procession of Euro
pean events. for, long before Italy
began to even talk about crushing
Ethiopia, there had been that other
great problem known as Germany. and
now that the crushing process in Afri-
ca has been completed, with the in
direct but effective connivance of the
League of Nations, the problem OF
Germany, entering new phase, per-
sistS.
And here, again, the hand Of Italy
is easily seen; also, the ambition OF
her prime minister and dictator, Ben
ito Mussolini, to become recognized
as one of the great statesmen of his
age.
An Approach.
A few days ago it was learned in
London that Adolf Hitler, chief exc
cutive of Germany, suddenly had re-
versed his attitude toward Austria as
potential part of regenerated Ger
many; he had always been a staunch
propagandist for the theory that Ger
many and Austria-two separate ma
lions but, essentially, one type of peO-
pie using the same language ought
to be united. That political philoso-
ply more than once tended to upset
the equilibrium of Europe and was
considered a real menace to peace.
BY the time the rumors began to
trickle through the European capitals,
they had Observation-Disclosures to the
public-assumed the solidity of a
fact; the approach had, as a matter
of actual reality, been not only made
but completed.
| An Agreement.
1t was understood that Chancellor
Hitler was beginning to worry about
Mussolini's new strength, and that
some sort of an alliance might be
consummated between Italy and Rus
sia-an alliance which, as matters
stand, might easily be expanded until
it comprised also Poland, France,
Roumania, Jugo-Slavia and Czecho-
Slovakia, in short, all the countries
which remain possible future foes of
Germany.
So, deity and adroitly Hitler made
move behind the stage; his am
bassador at Vienna, Franz Won Papen,
carried on confidential negotiations
with the Austrian chancellor, Kurt
Schusschnigg, and the result was an
official announcement that an agree
ment had been signed by which Ger
many and Austria undertook to re-
| lHIcIlCiC Ill CdCH OtH-
er's internal affairs, and that, in eff
feet, German agitation for merger
with Austria henceforth would stop.
Italy, always extremely worried
about the suspected Austrian designs
of the German government, expressed
herself as highly pleased, for the new
agreement means that Mussolini will
no longer have to fear greater Ger
many north of the Alps-in too close
proximity to Italy.
Wider Perspective.
What is of quite special interest
in this connection is the probable fact
that the world may soon see revival
of the old Triple Alliance which col
lapsed when Italy deserted Germany
and Austria during the World war;
There is reason for realizing that in
this matter Germany took the initia-
tive, and that every single step made