Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1937-08-19
INTERNATIONAL
NEWS REVIEW
Continued from Page u
Evacuation.

Generally speaking, the attitude of
the western powers toward the
Asiatic conflict has been one of SEEM
because they all had solemnly agreed
that Chinese territoriality and indie
pendence should not be jeopardized.
These western powers have spoken,
however, but only when they felt their
own particular interests endangered,
and this week they are following that
track when they are preparing to re-
move their nationals, at least women
and children, from the international
section of Shanghai. That evacua-
ton may be in progress or even have
been completed when these lines are
being read.
Aside from that, there has been no
serious or effective gesture of protest
against the further dismemberment
of China.
Spanish War.
In the Spanish civil war there has
been a lull for some time, but quite
suddenly a few days ago Fascist Cen
eral Francisco Franco and his rebel
armies became theoretically active in
the neighborhood of Santander. Many
weeks ago they conquered Bilbao
and had a strenuous time doing it;
then the boast was: Santander in
a few days, but weeks have gone,
months, indeed, and the city still holds
it own-just as does Madrid.
No major fighting has taken place
since the battle around Brunette in the
vicinity of Madrid, but there has been
quite little piracy on the high seas,
mostly done by rebel ships and Ital-
ians. One Danish vessel was bombed
and sunk few days ago, and its own
ers in Copenhagen reported that that
was the twentieth they had lost in
this way-victims of rebel airplanes.
AS for the neutrality or non-inter-
vention policy of other nations, one
can only say it is as much of joke
as ever. It exists on paper; beyond
that it is a very insubstantial thing,
for whatever agreement has been
arrived at, it does not seem to be en-
forced, and all attempts to stop the
influx of war material to Spain seem
to have been futile. In all justice,
however, it must be said that one
does not now hear much about for
eign volunteers entering the country.
AS it is, there are plenty of them al
ready, and that is the very obstruc-
ton for further agreements being ar
rived at, for while Great Britain,
France and Russia have maintained
that additional discussions be contin-
gent upon the removal of the volun-
teers already there, Italy and Ger
many have presistently refused to ac-
quiesce. So, there is a deadlock.
Reporting the Spanish civil war is
becoming rather trite, for the situa-
ton from week to week undergoes
but slight alteration, and it is pos
sible that the whole thing will turn
into war of attrition, with the result
that the opposing groups will wear
themselves out. Of any decisive vic
tory on either side there is at this
moment not much prospect
LltVlnOVS Fate.
1t was said here last week that For
eign Commissar Maxim Litvinov of
the Russian Soviet Republics APP
peared to be under a cloud of suspi-
cion; there were, indeed, indications
that the government at Moscow
thought he was member of the al
legged Leon Trotzky conspiracy, and
that he might have to face trial, like
so many other prominent Russians
whose death before a firing squad
was reported shortly after their names
were linked with supposed scandals.
But, for the moment, it looks as
though Litvinov is outside danger.
He vanished from Moscow a few days
ago, and it was said he had gone
abroad charged with some secret dip
lomatic task. Abroad he did go,
for few days later word came from
Vienna that he had arrived there
for the purpose of submitting to