AMERICANS NERVOUS.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 117, 16 April 1940, Page 7

AMERICANS NERVOUS.

DEVELOPMENTS IN NORWAY. NAVAL DEFENCE QUESTION. NEW YORK, April 14. Tlio New York Times Washington I correspondent says it is learned that r President Roosevelt has instructed the a Departments of State, Navy and War s to obtain information as soon as pos- - sible on how the Germans were able to land as far north as Narvik, and e whether the British Fleet is effective v enough to drive the Germans out of j Norway. 3 The departments met with indiffer- T ent success, the correspondent adds, 1 and officials are concerned over the -, situation of the United States if the . British Atlantic Fleet, which is regarded as an insurance for the United States, is no longer effective. <; The events of last week brought home the importance of the British j fleet in the American scheme of de- ,< fence. There is extreme reluctance in p Government circles to express this f view publicly. However the Govern- £ ment is so apprehensive that, but for the mining of the Skagerrak and the j, occupation of Narvik, a situation y might have developed necessitating j p- —ress'ons of its fears. The correspondent adds that if the I\ .... ~, m „onvay and succeeded eventually in nullifying the British fleet, a change in the United States public policy might be forced. However, the indications are now regarded as pointing in the other direction. Opinion close to White House is summarised thus: Japan is building a navv matching and perhaps excelling that of the United States. If the British sea screen is no longer i effective, the American Atlantic de- ; fences will be inadequate. The United j States air and army defences will < also be inadequate for 15 months. [ High officials express the opinion ( that, “a delayed outcome of the war , might exhaust Eurone, hut a quick German victory would leave us un- ! nrepared, and we could hardly resin | German demands regarding Latin America.” It is understood that the Secretary of State (Mr Hull) is ooposed.to ex- c nressing these views and for the time * b°ing has nrevailed. However, some * officials, still anprehensive of the de- c velopments in Scandinavia, may force c the Government to acquaint the public t of its fears. *