Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1940-02-01
INTERNATIONAL
NEWS REVIEW
CONTINUED from Page ~


own interest, ought to do something
to help the Firms, and the possibil-
ity that they may do so exists. But,
in the first place, no such promise
has been given; in the second place,
there is no guarantee that if such a
promise were actually given, it could
be fulfilled, and in the third place,
Norway and Sweden are slightly wor-
ried about such support, for it would
mean that British and French troops
would march through their territory,
and that would conceivably stir up
additional Russian wrath and irritate
Germany very considerably.
The Scandinavians shrink back at
the thought that their countries might
be designated battlefelds for the big
nations.
So far, there is no definite indi-
cation that this situation will be
brought about, but in this particular
connection it is of some importance
that in London the question of break
ing off diplomatic relations with Rus
STA is being discussed; for the moment,
the government has chosen the atti-
tude that it is too early to say any
thing about a matter as delicate as
this.
Offensive Expected.
Meanwhile, the standstill war be-
tween Germany and France continues
to BATTLE the world, although the war
between Germany and Great Britain
goes on bloodily enough on the high
seas where again numerous ships
mostly neutrals-have been mined
or torpedoed.
In Paris it is claimed that the Ger
mans are making intensive prepara-
tons for big push early in the
trating troops and accommodating guns
for what may turn out to be an
offensive directed against France
through the Vosges mountains, and
thus effect that entry into French
territory which the Maginot line has
denied them. But for the present,
there is no sign of activity at the
German-French frontier. Observers
speak about the calm before the
storm. They have done that for the
last five months.
Balkan Problems.
Tomorrow (Friday) prime ministers
and foreign ministers of the Balkan
nations are expected to gather at
Belgrade for a discussion of their
problems, among them being that of
Roumania's position.
From the Roumanian government
Germany has demanded that it be
supplied with all the oil shipments
stipulated in treaties of trade, but
the trouble is that about 80 percent
of the oil fields are owned by British
and French capital, and now Great
Britain and France have warned Rou-
mania that it will never do to sell
Germany oil which is owned by their
nationals. So far, the Roumanian
government has given no definite an
swer, but limited that no outside in
terests are at liberty to tell Rou-
mania what to do with the oil in it's
soil.
A conflict with either Germany or
with England-France, thus, appears
to be in prospect, and it is likely that
Hungary and Bulgaria will take adj
vantage of the situation and present
demands for the return of territory
which they had to cede to Roumania
as result of the World war 1t is
also quite within the range of prob
ability that Russia will renew it's
claims for Bessarabia So, the realm
of King Carol is up against it, no
matter from what viewpoint its plight
is being viewed.
Japanese Worries.
A week ago the commerce treaty
between the United States and Japan
expired in accordance with a decision