Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1943-01-28

quest was made by Ethiopia that
Article 16 of the covenant of the
League of Nations be applied against
Italy. Article Is had to do with
economic sanctions, to be applied
against an aggressor nation. The
assembly of the League of Nations,
representing So powers, agreed to
apply economic sanctions, at least
partially, against Italy. This was
done at the request of the emperor
of Ethiopia. What happened? The
sanctions were applied and they
worked. Exports and imports to Italy
dropped to practically nothing. An
other month and Italy would not
have been able to continue her ag-
erosion.
For instance, imports dropped from
$2,113,700 as of March 1885 to
$4,000 as of March 1886. Exports
from $l,942, 400 to $4,000 from one
of the minor countries alone, Jugo-
slavia. This of course was a fine
thing and if carried to its ultimate
conclusion would have prevented
World War II. What happened?
M. Laval, representing France and
Sir Samuel Hoare, representing Eng
land, got worried. To them nothing
was more abhorent than that the
League of Nations, through an honest
act, and impartial fulfillment of the
covenant, should become real fac
tor in the political game. To the
imperialistic ambassadors of the old
type the establishment of precedents
outlawing aggression was extremely
the League might apply economic
sanctions against them when they
chose to take some aborigines into
their orbit. Then what happened?
England and France dropped their
sanctions against Italy. AS a con-
sequence we have World War II by
allowing aggressive acts to continue
De Valera, speaking for Ireland
said, and what happened at Geneva
in 1886 influences Ireland now,
lover SO nations, we banded our
selves together for collective secur-
ity. Over so nations, we have now
to confess publicly that we must
abandon the victim to his fate. The
fate of the peace of Europe depends
on the great powers-if the great
powers would not desert us now
Europe would not be drenched with
blood ;"
Miss Hesselgren, speaking for
Sweden, said, How can we expect
after this that any small nation can
have any hope for the future? Every
small country must, after this ask
itself when its time will come"
What might we as a nation learn
from this? Learn in the sense that
We want all forms of aggression
stopped at its source in the future.
It seems to me the lesson is plain
that all forms of government of what
soever nature are maintained by
force. In the same way any fedora
ton of nations banded together for
the purpose of outlawing war must
be maintained by force Only force
can prevent any nation from drop
ping covenants solemnly agreed to-.
The small so nations did not have
the power to prevent the two large
nations from going back on their
pledges. The United States of Amer
lea could have prevented it, but. we
were not members of the League
Perhaps the powers that be which are
| asking for an army of 10000, 900
men know that they are doing. /
for one am willing to trust them
This time Uncle Sam is going to
write the peace and enforce it.
We have number of boy wonders
with no experience in war or knowl-
edge of history talking union now"
paper covenants and all the rest of
that nonsense tried once, and which
failed. The only covenants l am
for are those that this nation can
maintain, by force if necessary, re-
CARELESS of who gets to Berlin or
Tokyo first.
A. M. SIMONSEN.
Askov, MINI.