1941-05-29 — Page 23

THE CHINA MAIL, MAY 29, 1941.

CHINA MAIL

WINDSOR HOUSE

WAR IF IT COMES

After the ringing words of President Roosevelt's fireside talk, there can be no lingering doubt in any mind-in London or Ber- lin or Tokyo or Chung- king

as to where America stands and what its course will be. For Hit- ler, and Admiral Raeder,! the challenge thrown out is as ominous as it is hear- tening to Britain stand- ing in the forefront of the battle.

President Roosevelt was not specific on the point of the action the Ameri can Government proposes to take. But there was no ambiguity about his. cutline of the dangers that have to be faced and overcome the fact that sinkings of merchantmến! are outpacing joint. Anglo-American replace- ment capacity, the fact that the United States is committed to a policy of supplying the war mater- ials and must ensure. therefore, that the goods | are delivered. There was' no ambiguity about the plain statement that all necessary measures to en sure delivery will taken.

be

The

And

BISMARCK

PAID IN FULL, MAY 27, 1941.

Axis, The Azores America

some purpose. They are not irres- ponsible chatter, and they must hot be disregarded. The seizure of the Azores, if it could be ef- fected, would be one of the great moves of the war, a deadly dan- During the past few weeks both; therefore, that the islands of the the German and

the

Italian, Atlantic Ocean are of very great ger to Britain, a dangerous chal- to the United Slates, lenge to the United States, and news propaganda has been re-interest

against the ferring to the Azores, the Portu- For as Admiral Mahan, America's a paralysing stroke

Islands which are

teacher greatest

strategy, French empire and against all of said in his in the At- bas

discussion South Americs. situated stategically

the "lessons lantic Ocean that they have for, of

of the

dominated

America centuries

with the routes war

Spain," *emnot expect

ever again to from Europe to the Americas.

Throg hundred years ago they have an enemy so entirely inapt

the advance base of

the as Spain showed herself to be; Cervera's division

Rupse

५०

་

Ven

of

1

There

prolonged has been a

geographers, like debate among that of the schoolmen as to how many angels can dance on the whether the pount of a needle. Azores are within the Western For some reason which no one can account for on

In preparation for whatever he has in mind, the President has

pro- claimed a state of unlim- ited national emergency, were adding to his powers of Spaniards for their operations in yet

the West Indies. They are to reached Santiago on the 19th of executive action, and at day the prepal stepping-stone May, two days before US, divi-Hemisphere." the same time has re-as- for commercial aviation between signs appeared in the full force serted the doctrine of the

Europe and North America They they could muster before Havana Cienfuegos." To-day. a are ay near to Newfoundland ds, and freedom of the seas. Simp- they are 10 Gibraltar Ships hostile fleet operating from these travelling from North and South ly put, the doctrine insists America upon the right of Ameri- to the French Atlantic ports and

even to English ports must passį can merchant ships to

very Har to the Azores. These! travel anywhere on the islands are for all practical pur- In the middle poses very nearly high seas unmolested. of the Atlantic Ocean, and be- which implies that pro-¦ enuse the Atlantic is much tection will be given. Whe- smaller than the Pacifle, it is a Conservative statement to say ther he means convoys or that the control of the Azores is extended patrols makes at least as important to US. de

lence and to their interests as little difference. In the seafaring nation, as is the control end, the result will be the of Hawai

same.

to th Mediterranean,

* * *

The Azores are in fact the northern end of a chain of is-

navy

to

the

invaded

By Walter Lippmann

islands in the direction of South America would have a shorter

The

Q

believe that

any practical ground, the Wes- tern Hemisphere is supposed to the imaginary line of begin at

Yet 20 degrees west longitude.

Azores though this places the and the Cape Verde Islands in it is the Western Hemisphere, usually said that they are, never- theless, not within the Western Hemisphere.

11

with the forces

D

at

a

Why not? Because economical- ly and politically and historical-

bound ly

with they are | Europe," and therefore, they have within never been held to fail the scope of the political veto laid distance to travel than would an

Monroe Doctrine. American feat. operating from down in the a

any base the latter possess, But strategically they are of the !- which set out to intercept them. very greatest consequence to the Monroe Doctrine since the use of these islands as the advance base sudden interest of the of hostile navy and air force The importance of the lands, some Spanish and some Axis newspapers in these islands would make the enforcement of Portuguese, extending from the is bound, therefore, to be a mat-, the Monroe Doctrine almost im- speech cannot be exag

Island of Corvo to the Cape ter of very great interest to the possible gerated. It announced an Verde Islands, They control the United States. In their comment America's disposal.

to profess western they other deliberate forward approaches

The question of the American hemisphere. The last time, Great Britain is about to occupy step in American policy for example, that

#1 Euro- the Azores, and in the past this interest in the Azores has never raised before because in harmony with the new pean

the kind of talk has meant Invariably been western Hemisphere, the point of that they themselves were pre- throughout American history they

have belonged to Portugal, outlook of America upon departure for the fleet was the paring an aggression the world

There is no doubt that the oc-friendly, nation, and the ancient scene. "Aid Cape Verde Islands. It was only

But the forty-three years ago, within the cupation of the Azores by the ally of Great Britain. short of war" has been memory of many of us, that Ad-Nazis would be another and most Azores belonging nominally to a thrown into the discard as mirai Cervera and his Spanish Important move in the encircle- Portugal that had been overrun fleet sailed from the Cape Verde ment and blockade of the Bri- by Hitler and incorporated into the slogan of policy. The Islands on April 29, 1898, touch- tish Isles. It would close all the his new order, the Azores as totalitarian empire to Britain except part of the stage has been reached of ed at the French Island of Mar- approaches

to, the United “all-out aid even if it in- tinique on May 11, called at the only the very narrow northerly with Britain defeated, would be

that would be a greater threat Dutch Island of Curacao on May route and even

than the conquest of And States jeopardised. volves

at Santiago in dangerously war" President 15, and arrived

the Japanese. For the Island of Cuba on May 19. while it is not easy to see just Hawaii by Roosevelt yesterday pro-

would get to the Japan can never invade the Americans have reason to know, how Hitler claimed the necessity of

Azores, it is well to remember, Western Hemisphere, having no first, that no one foresaw how fifth column support within this; ending for all time the forces should the issue be he was going to take Norway, hemisphere. But the European effort of Hitler to domin-forced.

and second, that the invasion of Axis has such support, and with the undefended Azores would the Azores and the Cape Verde ate the world. Actual war

The President has an-

operating base, q be a less formidable Islands as an certainly

mortal blow would the invasion well-nigh may still be avoided by nounced this re-orienta- undertaking than

of England, The distance is have been struck at the defences. the United States. What tion of American policy in greater but the defences are non- of the Western Hemisphere.

part of some It should, therefore, be made the President has done is calm clear tones which a existent, and as

at once from America larger operation which engaged plain to throw down the gaunt-child could understand. the British feet in the Mediter that the Azores. are as much an let to the Axis, with an in- After the terrific recoil of ranean and around the British American vital interest as Mar vitation to "start some- the Bismarck episode, this Isles, the undertaking is quite tinique or Bermuda or Now

within the scope of Hitler's foundland, and no measure thing" if they doubt the second bitter pill is cal- strategical conceptions. It will should be neglected which will Intention of the United culated to cause acutely be advisable, therefore, to take make the seizure of the Azores

seriously the advance notice of by the Axis powers States to use their armed sour stomachs in Berlin. the Axis press. Such notices have sibility.

an impos