CHALLENGE ACCEPTED

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20635, 10 December 1941, Page 5

CHALLENGE ACCEPTED

DUTCH QUEEN’S CALL BREAK WITH JAPAN ENEMIES MULTIPLY (Reed. Dec. 10, 11.50 a.m.) LONDON, Dec. 9. Queen Wilhelmina of the Netherlands has issued the following proclamation: “We accept the challenge. With our mighty Allies we shall win the sti-uggle. The Netherlands resources are at the disposal of the common war effort. I count on the courage and determination of the East Indies.” The Greek and Egyptian Governments have severed diplomatic relations with Japan. A Buenos Aires message states that the Foreign Minister, Senor Guinazu, announced that Argentina considers the United States to be non-belliger-ent, thus permitting the United States to use Argentine ports in the war against Japan. The Government of Panama City has declared war on Japan, becoming the eighth Central American country to do so. Information has been received from British representatives that the Governments of the republics of Costa Rica, Guatemala, and Salvador have declared war on Japan. It is also announced that San Domingo and Nicaragua are acting similarly. Brazil and Mexico have expressed their solidarity with the United States and intention to abide by the Havana Convention. The Government of Argentina has consented to look after British interests in Japan. Other States now at war with Japan are the Netherlands, Greece and Haiti. The announcement that China had declared war on Germany and Italy was warmly received in Britain as a further indication of China’s solidarity with the democratic Powers and appreciation is expressed of Mr. Winston Churchill’s speech of last night and his cablegram to the “great leader Marshal Chiang Kai-Shek,” assuring him that henceforward their respective nations would face the common foe together.