Evening star., 1941-05-27
Nazis Deny Raeder
Directed Threats
Al Latin Nations
South Americans Not
Planning Patrols or
Conveys, They Declare
~ the Associated Press.

~ the Associated Press.
BERLIN, May 27.-Secretary of
State Hull's comment that German
Grand Admiral Erich Raeders
statement Sunday implied threat
to South American countries as well
a. the United States cannot be
understood mere" an authorized
commentator said today.
I'VE certainly are not aware that
any South American country con-
ducts or plans so-called neutrality
patrols or considers conveying war
materials" the spokesman said.
No South American country was
meant and it was not necessary for
the admiral to direct any such re-
marks to Latin American nations" I"
(Secretary Hull said at his
press conference in Washington
yesterday that Admiral Raeder's
statement conce. ming the Amer
lean neutrality patrol, made Sum-
day in all interview with Domei,
Japanese news agency, appeared
to be a threat to induce the
United States and, probably,
other American nations, to re-
frain from real efforts at self
defense efforts until Hitler was
ready to seize them
Policy Held Established.
Germans took the attitude that
the Raeder interview definitely
establishes the policy of his forces
to try to the utmost to sink any
contraband moving toward England,
irrespective Of whose ships were in
volved or who was protecting them.
The grand admiral had said that
institution of American conveys for
contraband to England would be an
"open war act" which would be met
by German guns If necessary.
Amplifying reports concerning the
sinking of the Egyptian motorship
Zamzam with 140 Americans aboard,
Germans said the vessel was sighted
at dusk. They asserted the liner
tried to escape by extinguishing her
lights and started using her radio.
A German naval vessel then fired,
they added, and continued to do SO
as long as the Zamzam's radio con-
tinued. When the radio ceased, they
went on, the firing stopped.
Germans contended that interna-
tionally recognized rules of warfare
justify shooting if a vessel being
taken as prize tries to summon aid
by radio.
Warning Stressed Again.
German radio commentators con-
tinued to stress on the eve of Presi-
dent Roosevelt's fireside chat the
interview In which Admiral Raeder
warned that United States conveys
for contraband to England would be
considered by Germany as "an open
act of war"
The fact that Admiral Raeder's
interview was distributed in Toxic
by Domei, official Japanees news
agency, although Admiral Raeder
was in Germany, was believed sig
niflcant by neutral observers in view
of japanese membership in the
three-power pact and the recent
statement by Japanese Foreign Min
lister Yosuke Matsuoka that Japan
intends to carry out her obligations
under the pact with Germany and
Italy.
Pointing out that there had been
no official elaboration of Admiral
Raeder's interview, the well-in-
formed Dienst aus Deutschland as
serted 1t was mot only q moral
right but a moral duty of Germany
to prevent the transportation of
bombs and planes from the United
States to England, which are de-
signed to be used against the women
and children of Germany's civilian
population"
Koh Ishii, Japanese Cabinet In
formation Bureau spokesman, said
today at Toxic that should the
United States begin conveying ships
she would create a dangerous and
serious situation which may result
in destruction of modern civiliza-
ton"