148
Department of State Bulletin, vol. II, p. 373
Statement by
President Roosevelt, April 13, 1940
Force and military aggression are once more
on the march against small nations, in this instance through the invasion of
Denmark and Norway. These two nations have won and maintained during a period
of many generations the respect and regard not only of the American people,
but of all peoples, because of their observance of the highest standards of
national and international conduct.
The Government of the United States has on
the occasion of recent invasions strongly expressed its disapprobation of such
unlawful exercise of force. It here reiterates, with undiminished emphasis,
its point of view as expressed on those occasions. If civilization is to
survive, the rights of the smaller nations to independence, to their
territorial integrity, and to the unimpeded opportunity for self‑government
must be respected by their more powerful neighbors.