Evening star., 1940-04-14
Roosevelt Hits
Nazi Invasion
Of Scandinavia
Military Aggression
Seen Menoeine
Civilization
BY JOHN c. HENRY.

IN curly emphatic words, PrASi.
dent Roosevelt last night condemned
German invasion of Denmark and
Norway.
Survival of civilization itself. he
declared, is dependent on respect
by the worlds powerful nations of
the territorial integrity and inde-
pendence of their smaller neighbors.
Clearly, he implied that in his opin-
ion this essential respect is lacking
In the release of force and military
aggression against the two Scandi-
navian neutrals.
The Chief Executives pronounce
ment, a positive and highly signifi-
cant expression of foreign policy of
this Government, was contained in
two-paragraph statement. It fol-
lows in full:
Force and military aggression
are once more on the march against
small nations, in this instance
through the invasion of Denmark
and Norway. These two nations
have won and maintained during
period of many generations the
respect and regard not only of the
American people, but of all peoples,
because of their observance of the
highest standards of national and
international conduct.
Repeats Disapprobation.
The Government of the United
States has on the occasion of re-
cent lnvaslons strongly expressed its
disapprobation of such unlawful
exercise OF force 1t here reiterates.
with undiminished emphasis, its
point OF view as expressed on those
occasions. If civilization is to sur.
vlve, the rights of the smaller ma.
lions to independence, to their ter.
rltorial integrity and to the unim-
peded opportunity for self govern.
ment must be respected by their
more powerful neighbors."
Mr.. Roosevelt's reference to pre-
vlous expressions of disapprobation
served to emphasize the consistency
with which his administration has
placed itself on record in disapproval
OF the aggressive policies of the to-
talltarlan nations. Beginning with
his widely publicized suggestion in
| Octooer, 1887, that "aggressor ma
tons" be quarantined by the rest of
the world. the Chief Executive has
directed specific criticisms at poll
cles being followed by Japan, Italy,
Germany and Russia.
Consistently, too, his administra-
tlon has refused recognition of terri.
torlal acquisitions achieved by force,
a circumstance which leaves one.
time ENJOYS from Czecho-Slovakia,
Poland, and most recently Denmark
without countries but with full dip.
lomatic recognition here.
Other Official Declarations
Leading Immediately to last nights
pronouncement have been the fol-
lowing declarations within a period
OF little more than one year:
| Condemning German invasion of
Czecho-Slovakia, Acting Secretary
OF State Sumner Welles on March
II, 1899, said:
This Government cannot refrain
from making known this country's
condemnation OF the acts which
have resulted in the temporary ex-
tlnguiShment of the liberties of q
free and independent people"
1T is manifest he added. that
acts of wanton lawlessness and of
arbitrary force are threatening world
peace and the very structure of mod
ern civilization"
Secretary of State Hull issued a
supplementary statement on March
"a, following his temporary absence
from Washington, declaring that
he had been profoundly shocked"
by the developments in Europe and
adding, These new evidences Of
international lawlessness make it all
the more clear that never before
has the support of all nations for
law and order and sound economic
relations been more urgently needed
than at present"
Albanian Invasion Scored.
A few days later Italy invaded
Albania and Secretary Hull declared
on April 8, 1899:
THE forcible and violent inva-
sion of Albania is unquestionably
an additional threat to the peace Of
the world. = Any threat to peace
seriously concerns all nations, and
violates the will of all peoples in
the world that their governments
shall lead them, not toward war,
but along paths of peace"
President Roosevelt moved to
Stave OF the gathering war clo,lds
on April Is, 1899, by sending to Hit
Ter and Mussolini identical COM
munications, declaring, ut is clear
that the leaders of great nations
have it in their power to liberate
(see ROOSEVELT, Page A-l5)