Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1938-05-12


of preventing Halle Selassie or his
representatives from gaining the floor
at Geneva, but after a while it was
said that there would be no objec-
ton, and that Great Britain and
France would satisfy themselves-and
Italy-by proffering the desired re-
cognition, and let the rest of the
League members do as they please.
That was the latest information when
these lines were being written-there
may be change of attitude before
they 60 to press.
Ratification.
Ungracefully yielding to demands
of dictators, Great Britain also has
found it expedient to accede to de-
mands of a small country, that of
Fire, heretofore known as the Irish
Free State. A treaty was signed be-
tween the two countries a short time
ago, and the other day the British
House of Commons ratified it. That
means, practically speaking, that the
government of England consents to
the actual secession of canon de
Valera's republic, now complete with
last weeks noiSeleSS election of DR..
Douglas Hyde as its president. Next
on Fires program is the annexation
of northern Ireland, the Ulster coun-
try, still faithful to the English
motherland
Armaments and Taxes.
Nearly all countries arm for peace;
so they say. In reality, of course,
they arm for wharf.-the next war.
And you cannot arm without money
All nations have realized that a long
time ago. Quite recently the British
budget called for additional arma-
ments expenditures to such an extent
that taxes had to be increased ire
mendously. France, already stagger-
ing under the burden of gigantic
military sacrifices, has begun to fol-
low the example and the other day
increased all taxes by percent
This was done by a decree of the
Edouard Daladier government acting
under a three-month authority to
rule France without parliamentary
advice and consent.
Facts and figures bear out the con-
viction that the more fervently the
great powers talk about the bless
ings of peace; the necessity of peace;
the deep desirability of peace, the
more eagerly they prepare them
selves for the breach of that very
peace. And that costs money. Later
ONT costs the lives of those who
contribute the money.
Wars in Progress.
AS for the two wars in progress
at the present time, there is no de-
cisive change to report.
In Spain, the loyalist armies still
are able to defend Barcelona and
most of Catalonia against General
Francisco Francois rebel armies; dur
ing the last few days Franco has
made some additional progress along
the northeast Mediterranean coast
of Spain, but not enough to affect the
situation as whole; fighting has, to
some extent, been retarded by incle-
ment weather, and in the meantime
both sides have been drawing up re-
Inducements. Offensives are in a
state of preparation.
So also in China: In southern
Shantung the Chinese armies have
again administered a series of de-
feats to the invading japanese, but
late reports indicate that the Mikado's
legions are beginning to make up for
lost time and battles. That Japan
is frightened appears from the fact
that the Tokyo government a few
days ago decreed that the new gen.
eral mobilization law is to take effect
almost immediately-not all of it at
once, but clause by clause. Japan
begins to realize that the conquest
of China is no joke.