Washington, Apr. 14. pene Roosevelt today issued a statement condemning the invasion of Norway and Denmark. The President declared "The Government of the United States, on the occasion of recent invasions, strongly expressed disapprobation of such unlawful Sweden via Charlottenberg. German forces in the Oslo zone of operations, he added, controlled a line running from Holden, in the south-east, to Eidsvoll, 34 miles north of Oslo, via Mysen and Armes. The Germans have not yet crossed the Vorma river. Several high German officers, this correspondent concluded, had reached the Norwegian shore after the Warship carrying them across the Skager-rok had been sunk; they were arrested by Norwegians, but were later freed by German soldiers—Havas. exercise of force, It here reiterates with undiminished emphasis its view as expressed on those occasions.
If civilization is to survive, the rights of smaller nations to independence, territorial integrity and unimpeded opportunity for self-government must be respected by their more powerful neighbours."
While bitterly condemning the German invasion of Norway and Denmark, the United States is not likely to take any action, or alter her foreign policy as a result of the spread of the European war to Scandinavia.
The general view of authoritative quarters in the capital can be summed up as follows: If Finland could not bring about American intervention nothing will—at least not this side of the presidential election, President Roosevelt, however, to protect American interests in the war zone, immediately signed a proclamation extending the definition of combat areas specified in the Neutrality Act to waters all round the Scandinavian Peninsula, as well as certain Arctic harbours' of the Soviet Union.
In the past, United States vessels, while forbidden to call at ports in southern Norway or the Baltic Sea, were free to dock at Bergen or any port farther to the north, With the new prohibitions, the only points where American shipping can touch in Europe are Portugal, Northern Spain and neutral ports in the Mediterranean,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.