Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1938-04-07
INTERNATIONAL
NEWS REVIEW
Continued from Page y

longer bound by that clause-witf
the exception that France expressly
declared it was not yet ready to builo
vessels of the magnitude contem-
plated, and that an attempt should
be made, first of all, to obviate the
necessity of big-ship construction.
In Washington, the French sugges-
ton fell on deaf ears: Secretary
of State Cordell Hull issued a state
ment that America must build q
bigger and ever bigger navy-a navy
not merely for home defense, but
''for defense of American citizens
everywhere" That is, in other words
AN American navy for aggression
"a navy to be used anywhere on
the globe.
1t is out of such attitudes that
big navies grow; it is on such atti-
tudes that the menace of war feeds
Kneeling to Fascism.
Generally, one absorbs the impress
sion that democratic powers are yield
ing to the force of dictatorship,
whether it be called fascist, nazist
or any other name Austria was an
illustration; Lithuania's recent genu-
flexion before the power of Poland
was another; Great Britain'S abject
refusal to aid democratic nations in
times of stress belongs in the same
category; the German church-Cath-
Ollie and Protestant-obeys the or
ders of a dictator. And there are
many other instances seeming to
prove that democracy is declining,
probably, it would occur to some OBJ
servers, headed for a complete col
lapse.
One indication of that kind is found
too, in the fact that no democratic
nation has responded favorably to
the Soviet suggestion that all gov
ernments opposed to dictatorship align
themselves formally and officially
against it. 1t has been objected to
this plan that Germany, Italy and
Japan were left out from the list
of the nations about to be invited
but one reason for that may be the
cogent one that whenever Germany
Italy, Great Britain and France in
recent years, indeed, in recent weeks
have discussed the feasibility of con-
Guiding a new treaty for the sake
of maintaining European peace for at
least ten years, Soviet Russia was
completely ignored.
China War.
Europe and America are quite def
initely preparing themselves for the
next war-whenever it comes about
Asia is step ahead, for the bloody
conflict between China and Japan
has been in progress almost nine
months, and there is at the present
no indication that it is approaching
it's end. The japanese armies. on
Chinese soil are still making ire
mendous efforts to reach Soochow
one of the Importantly strategic points
along the line which separates North
China from Central China, and it
appears that the invaders have met
with serious reverses, especially at
Taierchwang.
Generally speaking, the invading
armies have made very little progress
during the last few weeks, and that
explains the fact that the japanese
war minister the other day went to
his army headquarters in China to
find out what was the matter with
his generals since they seemed to be
unable to make Roadway.
1t may be well to refresh ones
memory and recall that not one OF
the powers guaranteeing the indie
pendence of China has raised a hand
against the Japanese; they have ut
tered a few words-but they avail
nothing where guns and bombs are
laundering.