NEWS IN AMERICA

Wairarapa Times-Age, 10 April 1940, Page 5

NEWS IN AMERICA

GOVERNMENT STUDYING DEVELOPMENTS EXTENSION OF NEUTRALITY PROVISIONS. DIVERSION OF SHIPPING. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. (Received This Day, 10.45 a.m.) WASHINGTON, April 9. The newspapers gave the invasion of Scandinavia the greatest display of any event since the outbreak of war, However the Congressional reaction is comparatively calm. The Secretary of State (Mr Cordell Hull) announced that the Administration is closely studying developments to determine whether to extend the Neutrality Act restrictions to Scandinavia. It is authoritatively stated American Atlantic Line has ordered the only American vessels at Norwegian ports, two in number, to leave immediately. Two other ships, en route to Bergen, have been ordered to change their destination. The State Department declined to express an opinion as to whether the German claim on Greenland, which geographically is in the western Hemishere, would infringe the Monroe Dostrine. The Department said it was unlikely ithat Germany would occupy Greenland, because of the British Navy. Senators all expressed sympathy with Scandinavia, but a majority reiterated that the United States must not become involved in any circumstances. A typical comment was Senator Connally’s remark: —“The invasion will naturally arouse American partisans. but the sentiment for peace is too strong to permit our being dragged in.”

SHOCK IN WASHINGTON “ANOTHER FREE NATION MURDERED.” EVACUATION OF NATIONALS. WASHINGTON. April 9. The German invasion of Denmark and Norway struck Washington with the shock ot a thunderbolt. The State Department and Legation officials were roused to hear the news and returned to their offices. Mr Cordell Hull (Secretary of State) cut off his vacation at Atlantic City. President Roosevelt is maintaining communication with the situation by telephone. The Danish Legation is dumbfounded. It is believed 552 United States citizens are endangered in Denmark and 1067 in Norway while 1752 resident in Sweden are also listed. Evacuation will start as soon as possible. The "New York Times" editorially expresses shocked anger at the invasion of Denmark and says: “Another free nation has been murdered in cold blood, a sacrifice to one man's lust for power." It is reliably stated that United States warships in European waters have been ordered northward to assist in the evacuation of Americans from Denmark. Norway and Sweden.