Evening star., 1941-03-26
Nazis Bring Combat
Zone Within ; Miles
OF Greenland
Officials Here Silent
On Course of Action
To Meet Situation
By the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press
The official extension of Ger
many's counter blockade operations
to within three miles of Greenland
brought the zone of intensive sea
warfare today to the threshold of
the Western Hemisphere which the
United States has committed herself
to defend.
The proximity of the new deadline
to Greenland attracted immediate
attention here, because authorities
have made it known on several occa-
Sions that Greenland is considered
a part of the hemisphere and, as
such, covered by the Monroe
Doctrine.
Policy Problem Created.
The German announcement last
night created policy problem for
the State Department, and Acting
Secretary of State Welles said the
department is giving consideration
to all the questions that arise as a
result of the German decision. Chief
of these is whether the German
combat zone now overlaps the West
ern Hemisphere.
Mr. Wells said that he had no
knowledge, himself. that American
ships have been carrying materials
to Iceland.
Whether the American neutrality
patrol will now be extended north
ward to Greenland, was a question
Mr.. Welles said has not been de-
cided.
L. s. Cutters in Vicinity.
Two United States Coast Guard
cutters, both of them armed, were
believed now operating in the
vicinity of Greenland as part of
the iceberg patrol Since Germany
occupied Denmark last year the
United States has shown increasing
interest in the two Danish crown
possessions. Greenland and Iceland,
with Greenland receiving the larger
share of attention.
The new German decree included
Iceland in the extended combat
area, contending that the British
were using the island as a base
against the Nazi counter blockade
campaign. The colony, only a short
distance from Greeland was oc-
cupied by the British last May.
Although officials here have de-
MED that any United States forces
have been sent to Greenland, Coast
Guard vessels have been maintain
ing close patrol of the vicinity. At
one time recently four heavily armed
patrol vessels were reported on duty
there, with total crew strength of
500 men.
Iceland Isolated by Invasion.
Trade between the United States
and Iceland began after the German
invasion of Denmark isolated the
latter from her mother country.
six Ships-three small pas
senger vessels and three freight
ers-are currently operating be-
tween New York and Reykjavik,
plying a distance of 2.700 miles.
tThese ships evidently were of
Danish registry, however. In
formed of Berlin assertions that
American ships had been unload
ing at Iceland for reshipment to
Britain, commission officials said
that no ships of American regis
try now or have been" operating
to Iceland)
Greenland contains valuable
cryolite mines, said to be the world S
only commercial source of the i'm
portant mineral used in refining
aluminum-an essential in aircraft
construction.
Several months ago a United
States consulate was opened in
Greenland to look out for American
interests. The United States mean
while has been the colony's supply
source for the foodstuffs and med
icines which were cut off by the oe-
cupation of Denmark
Greenland and Iceland recently
have been mentioned as possible
North Atlantic stepping stones" for
delivery of warplanes to Britain.