AMERICAN DEFENCE

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 261, 2 October 1940, Page 7

AMERICAN DEFENCE

CO-OPERATIVE BASIS.

OFFICIALS ON ALERT

(United Press Association.—Copyright.) (Received October 2, 10.40 a.m.) WASHINGTON, Oct. 1.

Official sources state that any fortification of Martinique, in the French West Indies, will be considered as a direct threat to tlie defences of the Americas, and will undoubtedly cause the invocation of the Havana Convention.

This follows a repoiT from Vichy that it is intended to strengthen tue facilities' for warships at Martinique. The French Minister (M. Henry Hayo) conferred with .President Booseveit regarding Martinique, after which At. Haye said : “The plan to resume the work of - the defences of Fort de France is oid and was prepared before the -war. I am sure there "is nothing important separating the United States and French viewpoints.” He. added that he had discussed cordially United States and French relations,:but’'not:(lndo-China. President Roosevelt told a group of South American General Staff officials who are visiting the United States at the invitation of ■ the United States General Staff that the Pan-American countries must co-operate in the defence of the 'Western Hemisphere,— “one for all and all for one.” In the name of the visitors the Bolivian delegate replied that the visit was another link in the chain uniting the Pan-American countries.