America Receives News Of Invasion

Northern Advocate, 11 May 1940, Page 8

America Receives News Of Invasion

WASHINGTON, May 10. Official information concerning the German invasion of the Low Countries was received by the United States Government from its Ambassador to Belgium tMr John Cudahy). In his first communication, Mr Cudahy reported that Luxemburg had been invaded by land and air. His next report was to the effect that the Germans were bombing the Brussels airport. Mr Cudahy also informed his Government that the German attack was apparently general on the border of Belgium, Holland and Luxemburg. Luxemburg Government Leaves. Aeroplanes were continuously bombing the airport as he telephoned. Other reports received in the United States indicate that large squadrons of the German Air Force are over Luxemburg and that the Luxemburg Government has left the country. • President Roosevelt has ordered Dutch, Belgian and Luxemburg credits to be frozen. Roosevelt Calls Conference. The President has also called a conference to meet at the White House this afternoon. Meanwhile the Secretary for State (Mr Cordell Hull) and his assistants have been discussing the position for some hours. As a result of the operation of the Neutrality Act, fresh limits are to be fixed for the operation of American shipping. „ . , No Change from U.S. Standpoint. President Roosevelt at a Press conference said: ' “Personally I fully sympathise with the views of Queen Wilhelmina and her proclamation, rallying Holland to fight German invasion.” He said that he saw no change in the situation to warrant a revision of his belief th&t the United States can stay out of the war. He refused to go into further details, because the subject was speculative. He warned reporters not to interpret the word speculative, under any conditions, to mean that the United States may be involved.