Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1936-04-16
INTERNATIONAL
NEWS REVIEW
By GEORG STRANDVOLD

doubt was expressed as to the out
come of the League of Nations coun-
Gil meeting in Geneva where it had
been hoped that certain steps in the
direction of international peace stabil-
ization would be taken, and it was
said that there have already been
too many disappointments to warrant
optimism"
Unfortunately, the doubt was justi-
fled for nothing was done, the only
decision reached being one about
postponing discussions until May II.
Two Groups.
In reality two groups were confer
ring: First, the League of Nations
Council, sitting as committee of 13,
took up the matter of trying to end
the war between Italy and Ethiopia;
second, the socalled Locarno powers,
with the exception of Germany and
Italy, met to consider the possible
ramifications of Hitlers reoccupation
of the demilitarized part of the Ger
man Rhineland. But although there
was a distinction between the two
groups, they were really overlapping
and all the men who took part in the
discussions within the Locarno group
also participated in the League Coun-
ellis deliberations.
War Situation.
Some six weeks ago the League
Council asked Italy and Ethiopia to
state whether they were willing to be-
gin negotiations with view toward
armistice and peace.
Ethiopia declared her readiness
without reservations of any kind, but
Italy stipulated a number of condi-
lions, and now the matter was to be
studied on the basis of the attitude
of the two belligerents. Ethiopia still
was willing to discuss peace, but did
make the demand that negotiations
be conducted in the presence of the
League Council as she felt she could
not take the matter up with Italy
without the cooperation of others. But
Italy's representative in the Council
Baron POmpeO AlOiSi--made the state
ment that he had received no in
structiOns from his government anC
thus was unable to proceed. Under
these circumstances there was no
thing that could be done, and the en-
tire matter was referred to a meet.
ing in May.
Charges and Sanctions.
Something Intellectual did happen
at last weeks Council session, how.
| ever, for Great Britain charged Italy
with having used poison gas against
the Philippians, and intimated that il
might become necessary to ask fol
| the application of oil sanctions
against the Italian government. No
| thing was done about the charges; no
| thing was done about sanctions. Blu,
| once more, light was shed upon the
policy of Great Britain, for it ha(
become known that Italian troops were
getting closer and closer to Lake Ia
ma in EthiOpia-and it so happens
that this lake is one of the British
spheres of interest. Hence the
yelled demand for additional sane.
IIOllS. vi COuISc, dL tHc lila
| new sanctions were voted against tia.
ly, Great Britain and France would
be certain that Italy would not sup
port their policy in regard to the
Rhineland occupations; so fart is
true-Italy has shown no willingness
| to give such support, but it is more
likely if oil sanctions are not useC
| than if they are. Nothing concrete
| resulted from the Council meeting
| and Italy is at liberty to go ahead
with her strangulation of a fellow.
member of that League of Nations
which has characterized Italy as al
| aggressOr nation violating the
Leagues own covenant.
Rhineland Predicament.
In the meantime, diplomats oil
Great Britain, France and Belgium
took up the matter of the German
Rhineland occupation. Apparently
they had come to the conclusion that
there is nothing that can be done
| about it, except to let Hitler's SOL
diers remain at the Rhine. Attempts
have been made to exact from Hitler
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