Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1936-07-09

been League members, Italy would
never have dared attack Ethiopia and,
il having dared, anyhow, would never
have been permitted to complete the
conquest. Italy, as it was, knew too
well that no matter whether all other
nations proclaimed sanctions, they
wouldn't hurt as long as the United
States, Japan and Germany kept open
their commercial channels leading to
Rome.
In the final analysis, the blame for
the Italian conquest of Ethiopia is
to be found in Washington, Tokyo
and Berlin. That is already the ver-
dict of some of the most competent
observers of world events; it is like
ly to be the judgment of future gener-
ations.
Naval Treaty.
That the preservation of peace is
not the goal of modern statesmen be-
comes evident every so often. They will
say lot about the desirability of
maintaining peace, but their actions
indicate that they mean the opposite
of what their tongues speak. There
is now, for instance, once more the
question of the socalled naval limi-
tation treaty of 1886. All treaties pur-
porting to limit big-power nayies
have resulted in increasing them, and
Japan at an early stage in the nego-
tiations in London and elsewhere had
that impression; Japan said she must
no. nf
Britain and the United States, but
that-and that was much to be pre-
ferred-navies all around should be
considerably smaller than they are
now. Great Britain and the United
States would not listen to the first
proposition, and they most decidedly
were uninterested in the ludicrous
suggestion that naval disarmament
meant smaller navies. So, Japan quit,
and the other day word came from
Tokyo that, circumstances being what
they are, His Imperial Japanese Ma
jesty could not undertake to adhere
to the London naval treaty of 1886.
All of which means that the naval
ornaments race, in progress for some
time, will continue undated with the
inevitable result that the tremendous
navies will be put to a test. That
test means war. Not today or to-
morrow, but some day when the big
navy countries feel they are strong
enough to start.
and the failure OF the international
disarmament movements it any
wonder that Kirstin Hes selgren, Swed-
ish delegate, could exclaim at
League session the other day, as
though in behalf of all womanhood:
why should we women bear chill
dren and place them in world so
filled with hopelessness and inseculi-
ty?"
Germany!
Back of what is going on is the
great enigma known as Germany.
What are Adolph Hitler's European
aspirations? Great Britain has asked
him; he has not yet replied although
one hears whispered rumors to the
effect that he may, after all, give a
reply, merely reiterating what he has
said before. For one thing, he wants
the German colonies of which his
country was despoiled as a result of
the world war, restored. He wants
and that was bluntly stated in Geneva
few days ago-Danzig to leave the
jurisdiction of the League and once
more become a German city. He
wants Germany recognized as an equal
of other powers. So far, Hitler has
obtained all he has claimed, and still
remains at peace with the rest of the
world. What if he gets more? Will
he then maintain peace, or will the
intoxication of added rower lead him
into excuses? That's still a question
which keeps Europe breathless.