Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1938-05-05

NEWS-REVIEW
Continued from Page u

powers than ever before. That means
translated into other words, that
peace will be maintained until all
its important supporters feel strong
enough to break it. Armaments do
not breed peace. They breed war.
No peace was ever guaranteed by
tremendous armaments-andt there is
some reason to believe that the treaty.
makers themselves are convinced that
there is no such thing as armed peace.
CzechO- SlOvakian Problem.
1t is almost inevitable that the
Mussolini-Hitler talks touch the
problem of the future of Czecho-
Slovakia, for it has become an obses-
sion that Germany is planning to an
mex at least the German-speaking
part of that country. Hitler's lieuten-
ant in Prague, Konrad Henlein, lead
er of the Nazi contingency of the
German minority group in Czecho-
Slovakia, has repeatedly demanded
that German districts be given Ger
man officials, indeed, even political
autonomy. The Prague government
has made several concessions, but they
do not seem to satisfy Henlein and
his crowd, so now claim for
plebiscite has been presented So
far, the Prague government has re-
jected it, hoping, it may be, that
certain other powers will not tolerate
German aggression. But the Czecho-
Slovakian government is likely to be
diSillusioned on this point, for it's
ally, Soviet Russia, has shown no
direct interest in the country's fate;
its other ally, that is France, has
been equally cool although it must
be admitted that during the negoti-
atiOns in London the French diplo-
mats suggested to their British COL
leagues that support be given the
Czechs. The only outcome of that
suggestion was vague promise to
support Czecho-Slovakia "morally"-
which does not, in practical life, mean
so very much. 1t looks, thus, as
though the Czechs will be left alone in
facing the problem of their existence
as nation, all the more so since
both British and French statesmen
have asked the Prague government to
be conciliatory in it's attitude toward
German demands.
Not Much Hope.
Under these circumstances, there is
not much to expect; Great Britain
and France have by their recent
actions shown most amazing will
ingness to enter into compromises
with dictator governments; they have
condoned the Italian conquest of Eth
opia, the German annexation of Aus
tria, the rebel war against the legi-
timist Spanish government; it is even
said that they have agreed not to sup
ply China with more war materials
for that might hurt the feelings of
Japan, the great and good friend of
Germany and Italy. All of which goes
to show, if not to prove, that democ-
racy is retreating and, as far as one
is able to see at this moment, headed
toward what looks very much like
a collapse.
The War in Spain.
Spanish democracy has not yet ex-
perienced a complete downfall, but
it does seem to be more than a mere
probability, for although the loyalist
forces have registered a few vic
tories recently-along the northeast
ern coast they have not materially
altered the situation. That resist
ance has, however, been strong
enough to inspire Rebel General
Francisco Franco to make the state
ment that the war is likely to last until
well into July. During the last few
days there has not been much fight
ing in progress, because of incle-
ment weather, and reports now are
to the effect that the rebels are TAX
ing advantage of the climatic condi-
tons to bring up reinforcements to
carry through a final assault on Bar
celona, the temporary capital of the
country. That city, by the way, was
bombed anew the other day, but the
bombardment did not change the
general picture.
Hankow Air Battle.
Flushed by victories in the region