Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1938-05-26
INTERNATIONAL
NEWS REVIEW
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conflict involving both France and
Italy, British sympathy would be
with the French-despite the agree
ment with Italy signed April Is. And
then nothing further was heard from
Italy, the presumption being that
negotiations with France will be re-
sumed very soon. But before France
and Great Britain had spoken, there
were moments of tension and anxiety
and war rumors were heard in the
distance.
Firmer Attitude.
Generally speaking, the attitude OF
both France and Great Britain to-
ward troublesome European prob
lens has stiffened very considerably
during the week just past. Not only
did Paris and London inform Rome
that there are limits to their tolera-
ton, but they also interviewed in a
new situation created in Czecho-
Slovakia.
It so happened that couple of
German farmers few days ago were
shot dead by police on Czecho-Slov-
akian territory; they had refused to
halt when ordered to do So-such
refusal being foolish; they were killed
such killing being unnecessary and
worthy of condemnation in the abb
sence of facts that show attempted
resistance on the part of the farmers.
But, nervousness along European
borders being what it is-here was
an incident that might be played up.
The Sudeten Germans did that, and
their fellow-nazists in Germany did
the rest; it seemed for while al
most unavoidable that German armies
invade the Czech country and mete
out to it the same fate that so re-
Gently befell Austria. Also, last Sum-
day the first of series of municipal
elections took place in Czecho-Slo-
vakia, and the Sudeten Germans were
inclined to consider them in the ma
ture of an incipient plebiscite on
the question of whether the country
should retain its independence or sub
NIT itself to Germany.
Reaction.
In Paris and London there was an
immediate reaction: The French gov
eminent, apparently grown more de-
faint than before, served notice to the
effect that if Germany moved armies
o,I s,,f0
would mean war; at the same time
the British cabinet held an extra
ordinary session resulting in strong
persuasions being made in Berlin.
And the upshot of the whole thing
was that the German government
pledged itself not to invade Czecho-
Slovakia because of the shooting af-
fair, and that Konrad Henlein, leader
of the Sudeten Germans, expressed
willingness to confer with the Czech
prime minister concerning the future
status of his minority group.
The war clouds had vanished-for
the present. 1t must not, however,
be forgotten that as long as Euro
pean nations-and the United States
arm at the present rate there is al
ways, and will always be, prob
ability of war.
Getting Ready.
One important reason for the de-
sire of the great powers to avoid
war at this moment is, undoubtedly,
the fact that they are not yet ready
for one. Great Britain, particularly,
feels that it is tagging behind, and
that is the cause of shakeup which
took place in the cabinet just few
days ago; it had been charged that
the building of military airplanes did
not proceed with adequate speed, so
the British minister of air defense,
Lord Swinton, was removed to make
room for Sir Kingsley Wood who
it is thought-will be able to build
the British air fleet up to the re-
quired strength in minimum of time.
simultaneously, the French govern
ment took steps to speed up its aerial
warfare preparations so as to neu-
tralize the potential effects of Ger
man expansion IN the air.
SOOchow Victory.
Months of terrible fighting finally
resulted in the Japanese capture of
the strategically important city of
Soochow-the point where the Chi
nese Lunghai and the Tientsin-Pukow
railroads meet-and the japanese
consider it most important victory.
1t is by no means an empty one, but
it is not as important as the japanese
think it: In the first place, it has
required tremendous sacrifices; in the
second place, it has resulted in loss
of prestige since the Soochow victory
was preceded by string of defeats
administered to them by the de-
tenders, and in the third place, the
fighting in that area has, more than
anything else, served to unity the
Chinese people.
Just before the Soochow capture