Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1936-06-18
INTERNATIONAL
NEWS REVIEW
CONTINUED from Page -


public life, this fact may mean that
the turning point in the battle be-
tween democracy and dictatorship has
been reached.
Should he, on the other hand, fail
or should it turn out that he does not
act swiftly enough, there is danger
that a reactionary movement may
gain the upper hand, and then. OF
course, there is not merely the UNI
canny prospect of liberalism forfeit
ing what has now been won, but there
is also the danger that reactionary
fascism in other parts of Europe may
be considerably strengthened; these
are the facts which explain the deep
interest with which Europe is watch
ing the newest French experiment
an experiment which some British
observers characterize as nothing less
than a revolution, withal bloodless
one.
League Gathering.
Diplomats and journalists are turn
ing their eyes not only in the dlrec-
ton of Paris these days-their atten-
for there the League of Nations is to
meet some time this month in an
extraordinary session comprising the
council as we'll as the assembly. Pre-
ceding this general meeting there will
be one by the council alone, starting,
it seems, on June 26, and on this oc-
casion the question of what to do
1y,c nf
scheduled to come up.
In a way, the question is ridicu-
lousy superfluous, for Italy has al
ready incorporated Ethiopia in her
colonial empire, and there does not
seem to be anything whatsoever that
the League can do about it. 1t may
be that the League does not feel it
can officially approve of, or recognize,
the conquest, but that does not alter
the fact that Italy is in possession.
And if the League, as now seems al
most inevitable, removes the innOcu-
Gus economic sanctions in force
against Italy, that fact will in itself
act as a recognition of the right"
of Mussolini to step ashore in another
continent and simply take what he
covets.
1t may be-although it is not yet
very probable-that the council meet
ing will pave the way for discussion
of the question, how to so change the
machinery of the League so as to
make it really effective in the case
of an international crisis. There is
nowhere anyone who doubts that such
a revision is sorely needed, but even
conceding that, is not saying that a
reform will take place at this time.
Chinese Situation.
Normally, one should think that
the Italo-Ethiopian war provides rea-
son enough for thorough. overhaul
ing of the League; it may be-, though
that this isn't enough. But then
there is China-China, like Ethiopia
depending upon her League member,
ship as a protection against aggres.
sion; China, like many another weak
nation, leaning confidently on a col
umn of solemn treaties designed tc
guarantee her independence.
And what happens? What happens
in spite of the League, in spite of all
these treaties Zone of which, by the
way, is signed by the United States
too)?
This: The Japanese are slowly but
relentlessly making themselves the
masters of five North Chinese prov
inces-a region with total popula.
tion of Is millions. And nobody does q
thing about it!
Fear of Civil War.
The realization of the complete in.
activity of foreign powers has prompt
ed South China to move, but there is
so much confusion in the dispatches
from Canton and Marking that one
cannot form definite picture of what
really goes on. On the surface, il
looks as though South China is try
ing to force the central government
to declare war against Japan and tt
drive the Nipponese troops out of Chi.
nese territory. Failing in that OBJ
jective, South China appears to be
threatening Japan with a war declar
alton.
10 ISpOI ISo IHdl dn
the south is marching northward, an(
also that the central government ha;
ordered out its troops to stop the
southerners. But it is also said thai
quiet negotiations are in progress be-
tween the south and the central gov
eminent, and that the upshot will bt
what everybody has expected it tt
be for long time-namely, the immi
nent Japanese conquest and occupa
tion of all the five northern provinces
One still hears rumors that thu
South China movement is being engin
eered by the Japanese in the hope o
stirring up a civil war; with such
combat going on, it would be small
matter for Japan to take not merel
the five provinces, but more, too, i
such are the ambitions at Tokyo.
CianO to Berlin.
A few days ago Premier Mussolin
made his son-in-law, Count Galeazz
Ciano, Italian foreign minister, thu