Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1937-04-29
INTERNATIONAL
NEWS REVIEW
Continued from Page -
Note to Belgium.


as surely as Italy may be lining her
self up with the two German-speak-
ing nations once more, just as surely
will Great Britain and France re-
new their former Entente cordiale.'
The ground has been plowed.
For the other day the Belgian gov
eminent received note from Lon
don, issued in behalf of the British
and the French governments jointly;
its principal points were:
Great Britain and France under
take to defend the frontiers of Bel
GUM in case of aggression, but Bel
GUM must assume the duty of re-
sisting the marching through of any
army that has belligerent designs
upon either Great Britain or France.
On the other hand, Belgium is to be
considered released from the Locarno
treaty and from all obligations to-
ward other nations Except the one
already stated, to resist on her own
soil enemies of Great Britain and
France), that is to say, Belgium is
henceforward to be considered a
strictly neutral nation.
The practical effect of this Lon
don-Paris declaration is to align
Great Britain, France and Belgium
in much the same manner as before
1914. So, the situation seems much
like that existing % years ago: A
pos sible German-AuStro-It Italian
Triple-Alliance on one side, a pos
Sible Entente between Great Britain,
France and Belgium on the other.
J. German Reaction.
1t is tacitly, but generally, under
stood that the London-Paris declara-
ton is directed against Germany just
as definitely as is the Franco-RuS-
sian alliance of 1886. And, you will
recall that in 1914 just such an ALI
ance was also in eXistence-so much
so, in fact, that later historians have
pointed to that agreement as the
ultimate cause of the world war.
What is the German reaction to
all this? It is strong, it is bitter
very; but it is un-eXpressed, so far
w lCIl -AQOl1 lCSlS tlldl lllS llluS
has come, he will no doubt state his
opinion, and then he may also call
attention to the not wholly uninter-
esting circumstance that any Entente
tordiale, and Franco-Russian ALI
ance, will face Germany consid-
erably stronger than it was in 1914.
These various international re-
alignments, coupled with the hectic
ornaments race, do not bode so very
well for the future. More than that,
ominouS memory of history repeat
ing itself. On the reaSsuring side
of the situation one finds no imme-
diate cause for any international out
break; not even Spain. The only APP
parent potential cause for war lies,
paradoxically perhaps, in the very
energy with which the great powers
are preparing themselves for war.
But-their preparations are not yet
completed.
Rule, Britannica
Some time ago the British govern
ment let it be known that it would
protect its merchant vessels bound
for the rebel-besieged Spanish city
of Bilbao only as long as they re-
manned in international waters; it
was expressly stipulated that if such
vessels went inside the Spanish three
mile limit, they would have to suffer
the consequences. AS a result, sew
eral ships bound for Bilbao sought
refuge in French port But, with
out warning, the British government
reversed itself-possibly because of
acrimonious criticism from the floor
of the House of Commons, for a few
days later Sir Samuel Hoare, First
Lord of the Admiralty, informed the
Commons that the British navy stood
ready to protect British shipping no
matter whether it was inside or out
side Spanish territorial waters.
The effect was instantaneous: Five
food-laden British vessels steamed in
the direction of Bilbao, the popula-
ton of which city is facing starva-
ton as result of a protracted rebel
siege; while they were still in in
ternational waters, Spanish rebel
cruiser fired a shot of warning at
them and signaled that if they dared
proceed, they would be sunk. But
not many miles away doomed the
mighty hulk of the British battle
cruiser, Hood" and, upon receiv-
ing a message from the merchant
vessels, this giant of the fleet steamed
to the place of trouble. The Span
ish rebel ship vanished as if by magic,
and while the merchant boats went
on to the docks of Bilbao, the Hood
remained sternly just beyond the
three-mile line ready to fire, if nee
eSsary. 1t wasn't necessary. Even
Rebel General Francois battleships
are a little timid when H. M. S.
Hood" is in the offing.
Continuous BOmbardment.
For several days Madrid has again
been exposed to violent and contin-