Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1937-12-02
INTERNATIONAL
NEWS REVIEW
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importance in the history of Europe
since the days of the Versailles peace
treaty; that may, as said, be over
stating it, but it cannot be denied
that their potential significance is
likely to be considerable.
The question around which diplo-
matte conferences-thOse in London
and those to come elsewhere-re-
volve is the oft-asked: What are
the aims of Hitler's foreign policy?
More specifically in this case: What
did he tell Lord Halifax?
AS for the latter-that is still
more or less of a mystery; it is sur
missed, with some reason, that Hitler
and Halifax discussed the problem
of Germany's claim to its war-lost
colonies. But that wasn't all; there
seems to have been some talk, too,
of Germany's relations to Austria and
Czecho-Slovakia, and the general I'M
derstanding is that Hitler asked Lord
Halifax to persuade the British and
the French governments to give him
free hands" in central Europe.
To achieve this much-desired free
dom of action Hitler has always
deemed it necessary to play France
against Great Britain-and vice versa,
and it is thought that the London
conference was summoned, first of
all, for the purpose of demonstrating
to Germany and the rest of the world
that Great Britain and France look
at international problems from the
very same viewpoint. Furthermore,
it is conjectured that Hitler is pre-
pared to promise London and Paris
that he will not employ armed force
in trying to extend his influence into
Austria and Czecho-Slovakia-if he
will only be given unrestrained free
dom of action. This attitude prompts
the guess that Hitler will adopt meth
DDS of peaceful persuasion" in the
two countries over which he so very
ardently desires to exert some meas
ure of decisive control.
Chinese Defeats.
For the moment-that is, early this
week-Far Eastern difficulties were
seemingly forgotten; the problems of
Europe had become intensely absorb
ing, and it would be futile to waste
any more thought on China: this
seemed to be the consensus of diplo-
matte opinion in Europe. Or, was it
a matter of sick conscience? Was
it case of some powers not feeling
so very proud about the Asiatic bust
ness-not proud enough to say any
thing more about it?
No one knows. Most certainly,
however, the record is against them
as well as against the United States.
Powers, signing in 1922 treaty that
was to guarantee the political indie
pendence and the territorial inte-
gritty of China, met at Brussels, sup
plementing themselves with half a
score of minor nations. They were
called to discuss ways and means for
stopping Japan's war of aggression
against China, and they stopped moth
ing. They did nothing. They had
invited Japan-twice-to participate
in the negotiations, and-twice-
Japan turned down the invitation.
Although the League of Nations; al
though the American government,
had stigmatized Japan officially and
sharply as a violator of not only the
1922 treaty but also of the BRAND
Kellogg treaty against war, the Brus-
sells conference went to no such
lengths; at somewhat early stage
it expressed regret that Japan was
not marching in time with the other
powers of the world, and it termin-
ated its inglorious efforts with a
resolution which, in the most general
and non-specific terms, deplored the
fact that nations still settle their
controversies by resorting to arms.
That was all. Not word of con-
demnation, not a syllable of de-
nunciation against Japan.
In other words, the nations which
had guaranteed China's national ex-
istence deserted her; practically
speaking, they made common cause
with the aggressor nation. China
was defeated on the diplomatic front
because even her friends joined her
enemy.
And that defeat completed the
weeks picture of the military defeat.
Closer to Marking.
For Japan's relentless armies moved
ever closer to Marking, the capital
of China; city after city was taken,
and, according to the best informed
observers, it will be a matter of
merely a few weeks before Marking