Evening star., 1940-04-21
Tense Neuro Await Outcome Against Norway

ing itself from union with Denmark
after the Danes succumbed to Germany.
laid plans for initiating formal diplomatic
relations.
Congress heard suggestion that the
United States establish protectorate
over Greenland, huge ice-blanketed
island possession Of Denmark nestled
against the North American continent.
The Senate approved a 1864 900, 900
naval spending bill for the coming fiscal
year and a $15,000,O0o appropriation
for third set of locks for the Panama
Canal
The State Department fretted over
the evacuation Of Americans in the
Scandinavian war zone.
The President In a Pan-American
Day speech said that the Americas are
prepared to meet force with force If
the Western Hemispheres scene of peace
is challenged. whoever touches one
Of us, touches all of u.s." he said.
OF vast Importance for our future line
of conduct were Secretary Hull's pro-
nouncement on the Netherlands Indies
and the Presidents definition of the
unity of the Americas.
Halfway between Sumatra Islands
eastern and western ends the Equator
Greenwich. Sumatra is the westernmost
of the Netherlands Indies,
Dutch separated by the Straits Of
Indies Malacca from the Malay
States, short journey from
Singapore, the great British Eastern
naval base. From Sumatra the Indies
stretch across thick archipelago for
more than $500 miles. Twenty-Five hun.
dred miles to the north, with the Philip
pines intervening, is Japan.
A German invasion of the Netherlands
would give the Indies an anomalous
status In Toxic Foreign Minister Arita
made statement which indicated q
prospective japanese protective" occu-
patton of the islands, rich as producers
Of three vital materials of war-tin, rub
ber, petroleum. In Washington Secre.
tary Hull told the press in formal an.
nouncement:
Intervention in the domestic affairs
Of the Netherlands Indies or any altera-
ton of their status quo by other than
peaceful processes would be prejudicial
to the cause of stability,
HuIrs peace and security not
Wornjpo only in the region of the
Netherlands Indies, but in
the entire Pacific area"
The United States is the mightiest
nation in the Pacific area, even though
it Is 5000 miles from Sumatra.
The Dutch government announced it
had conveyed the view to the Japanese
that "the government of the East Indies
in the supposed case (of war; will be
able in reality to secure the government
in these possessions and to maintain or
der to the full extent"
Before Secretary Hull proclaimed our
interest as a Pacific nation in the fate
Of the Indies, President Roosevelt pro-
claimed our interest as an American
nation in the preservation of the New
World international system. With great
solemnity he spoke to the governing
board of the Pan-American Union while
the allied Ambassadors, Lothian of Great
Britain and San Quentin of France lis
tened from their seats in stiff gilded
chairs.
Peace reigns among us today" Mr..
Roosevelt said Of the Americas, because
we have resolved to
Unity in settle any dispute
on-Americo that should arise
among us by friendly
negotiation in accordance with Justice
and equity rather than by force. = -.
But we shall be able to keep that way
open only If we are prepared to meet
force with force"
The question of our northern neighbor,
Greenland, seemingly orphaned by the
German protectorate of Denmark, was
less easily defined than the matter Of
our relations with our southern neigh.
bors. But apparently a German in
vasion is not in prospect. And the British
position with regard to Greenland was
stated by Lord Lothian, the Ambassador
here, who said he considered Greenland
comes well within the Monroe Doctrine.