Evening star., 1941-04-11

ton of American
defense through David Lawrence.
out the Western Hemisphere anC
particularly in all islands in mid
ocean where it may be found de-
sirable for the United States to
establish bases for defense.
President Roosevelt endeavored, OF
course, to conform with the rules OF
international law by signing an
agreement with the Minister of Den
mark here and the agreement speaks
of the latter's act as representing
the King and sovereign of Denmark
Whenever a foreign government for
mally invites another government to
come to its protection, the amenities
are thereby observed.
What many observers in Washing
ton are wondering is just how Den
mark, now occupied by Germany,
managed to give her consent to the
temporary occupation of Greenland
by American armed forces. There
are two possible explanations: First,
Denmark didn't ask Germany but
went ahead of her own initiative
and knew Berlin would not object,
and the other is that the NaziS may
yet have something to say about it
and may force Denmark's govern
ment to repudiate the action of her
Minister. This, however, would not
affect the United States Govern
ment and would merely mean that
Germany would have to face the
fact of an American occupation or
risk a declaration of war and re-
sistance to American forces in Or
der to try to occupy Greenland her
self.
Germany Seen "On Spot"
The general impression here is
that Germany has been put on the
spot by the United States and that
Denmark quietly concurred because
1t was obvious the United States
would proceed to protect Greenland
at any cost.
Germany can say very little in
protest, moreover, because the Unit
ed States has formally proclaimed
Greenland to be within the Western
Hemisphere The Senate and
House by overwhelming vote recent
ly affirmed the interest of the United
States in the maintenance of the
Monroe Doctrine and specifically
stipulated that there must be no
transfer Of sovereignty among the
existing colonies in the Western
Hemisphere now owned by European
governments. Mr.. Roosevelt was
careful fn
land would remain a Danish colony
and complete sovereignty would go
back to Denmark after the war, if
there happens to be an independent
Denmark in existence.
The announcement from the
White House that Greenland is in
the same category as Canada or
Martinique so far as protection of
the Monroe Doctrine is concerned
and that all will be defended If at
tackled, clears up all doubt about the
Washington Governments future
policy. If the fortunes of war should
go against the British, the United
States will not permit any foreign
power to attack Canada. If the
Vichy government attempts to allow
Martinique to be used as a base for
Germany, the United States may at
any time occupy that island so as to
forestaQ any such use.
What the President has disclosed
Is readiness to act well in advance
and not to wait till the Nazis have
enlarged their hold on points which
may be dangerously near to the
Western Hemisphere. There is even
some speculation here as to whether
the United States, following the
same policy, might feel justified in
occupying islands near the middle
Of the Atlantic.
The occupation of Greenland is of
strategic importance in many ways.
Not only will air bases be established
90 that pursuit planes can 90 in
short jumps from Labrador to
Greenland and then to Britain, but
1t may be that merchant ships will
pass far north under the protection
Of American naval vessels for Jour-
neys between the United States and
Greenland. 1t may be asserted that
the United States will not permit
her shipping to be sunk without
warning by submarines when des-
tined from the United States to
Greenland. Commerce between
American ports is not commerce
within any war zone as recognized
by the Government here. To permit
attacks on our commerce between
for ie
any different in principle than to
permit Interruptions of or attacks on
ships moving between coastWise
ports or between Atlantic and Pacific
ports through the Panama Canal.
Substitute for Conveys.
The first World War was fought to
protect the freedom of the seas. The
United States has never relinquished
her right under international law to
ship cargoes between neutral ports.
Tt Is true that belligerent vessels
have right of search and seizure
If contraband Is discovered on board,
but German submarines are unable
to conduct searches and bring mer-
chant vessels into their own ports
as prizes in accordance with historic
international law For the United
States to allow German craft to in
wade the Western Hemisphere and
sink without warning American ves-
sells or foreign flag vessels carrying
American cargoes would be to yield
vital rights never given up before.
There is no such intention now.
The occupation of Greenland is an
answer to the convoy problem. Amer
lean naval vessels intend to patrol
the Western Hemisphere and pre-
vent American cargoes from being
DESTROYED therein. Once the cargo