Trusteeship in Martinique And Aruba

Press, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23087, 1 August 1940, Page 7

Trusteeship in Martinique And Aruba

REPORTED authorisation OF UNITED STATES

ICXITEIJ PRESS ISSOCIATIOH—COPTIUOnT.) (Received July 31, 10 p.m.) NEW YORK, July 30. The New York “Daily News” publishes a copyrighted. exclusive story which states that the PanAmerican Conference at Havana agreed—and the step Only awaits ratification of the plan by the Pan-American nations —for the United States to send a naval expedition to the Caribbean early in September to impose a trusteeship over French and Dutch possessions. This will liquidate the war in the West Indies, bottling up the oil refineries on the Dutch island of Aruba, which have been important suppliers of Germany, impounding 250,000,000 dollars of gold in Martinique, demilitarising the French naval units, and repurchasing 100 United States military aeroplanes there for resale to Britain. The Pan-American Conference adjourned sine die after all the delegates had signed the convention and also “the Act of Havana.” ■ The United States Secretary of State (Mr Cordell Hull) issued a statement emphasising that “at no time has any American nation had the slightest thought of taking advantage of the European situation for the purpose of grabbing territory.” Referring to certain Governments’ subversive activities in the Western Hemisphere, Mr Hull alleged that “pursuing these policies, the personnel of diplomatic and consular missions have increased out of all proportion to the needs for their legitimate functions.” w „ Ti \ e U nt i ei ’-Secretary of State (Mr Sumner WelleS) said: *1 hope a satisfactory understanding can be worked out to prevent trouble regarding Martinique. ’ Answering an inquiry as to what the United btfttes considered to be a change of sovereignty over European posserslons to justify action under the Havana agreement, Mr Welles said a change would be considered to have occurred when a free, independent Government lost its independence and came under duress. He added that the Dutch possessions were not affected, because the Netherlands Government was operating freely from London. Mr Welles refused to express an opinion on the French Government.