Evening star., 1939-03-17
U.S.. Assai|s Wanton Law|essness
OfReich in Czecho-S|ovak Coup;
Britain Calls Home Berlin Envov
WeI|es Condemns
Arbitrary Force
Used by Nozis

The United States Government
expressed today its condemnation
of Germanys "wanton lawlessness'
and arbitrary force" in occupying
Czecho-Slovakia
With the approval of President
Roosevelt, Acting Secretary Of State
Welles issued formal statement in
which he spoke of Germany's alb
sorption of most of Czecho-Slovakia
as a temporary extinguishment OF
the liberties of free and independ-
ent people with whom, from the
day when the republic of Czecho-
Slovakia attained its independence
the people of the United States
have maintained specially close and
friendly relations
World Peace Threatened.
Mr. Welles declared: 1T is mani
fest that acts of wanton lawlessness
and of arbitrary force are threaten
ing world peace and the very struc-
ture of modern civilization"
The acting Secretary of State
made his statement after comforting
with the President and he said his
statement had received the Chief
Executives approval.
This Government" he said
founded upon and dedicated to
the principals of human liberty
and of democracy, cannot refrain
from making known this country S
condemnation of the acts" of Ger
many.
Roosevelt for Neutrality Change.
Earlier the President told a press
conference that European develop
ments demonstrated the need for
a revision of the American Neu-
trality Act, at this session of Con-
gress.
Mr.. Roosevelt would not go into
detail. Heretofore, there have been
reports that the administration
would prefer greater freedom or
flexibility in imposing arms en-
bargoes in event of foreign wars.
Mr.. Welles said the question OF
what to do about the status of the
United States Legation in Prague
wac uAAASA dtlOll. nc dlSO
said that Secretary of the Treasury
Morgenthau would make an an
nouncement soon, probably tomor-
row, regarding the status of this
countrys reciprocal trade agreement
with Czecho-Slovakia. It is expected
to be scrapped.
This Government has not received
any official notification from Ger
many regarding her acts in Czecho-
Slovakia, Mr.. Welles said. He added
that the United States had not sent
any communication to Germany or
any other government on the matter
Text of Statement.
The statement said:
''The Government of the United
States has on frequent occasions
stated its conviction that only
through international support of
a program of order based upon law
can world peace be assured.
This Government, founded upon
and dedicated to the principles of
human liberty and of democracy
cannot refrain from making known
this countrys condemnation of the
acts which have resulted in the
temporary eXtinguishment of the
liberties of free and independent
people with whom from the day
wehn the Republic of Czecho-Slo-
vakia attained it's independence
the people of the United States
have maintained especially close
and friendly relations.
U. S. Position Clear.
'"The position of the Government
of the United States has been made
consistently clear. 1t has empha-
sized the need for respect for the
sanctity of treaties and of the
pledged word and for non-interven-
ton by any nation in the domestic
affairs of other nations, and it has
on repeated occasions expressed its
condemnation of policy of military
aggression.
1T is manifest that acts of wanton
1awlessness and of arbitrary force
are threatening world peace and the
very structure of modern civiliza-
ton.
THE imperative need for the OBJ
.(See ROOSEVELT. Page A-60