740.0011 European War 1939/9720a: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Minister in Yugoslavia (Lane)
80. The following statement was issued by me today after consultation with the President:
“The barbaric invasion of Yugoslavia and the attempt to annihilate that country by brute force is but another chapter in the present planned movement of attempted world conquest and domination. Another small nation has been assaulted by the forces of aggression and is further proof that there are no geographical limitations or bounds of any kind to their movement for world conquest.
The American people have the greatest sympathy for the nation which has been thus so outrageously attacked and we follow closely the valiant struggle the Yugoslav people are making to protect their homes and preserve their liberty.
This Government with its policy of helping those who are defending themselves against would-be conquerors is now proceeding as speedily as possible to send military and other supplies to Yugoslavia.”82
- For President Roosevelt’s message of April 8 to King Peter, regarding the invasion, see Department of State Bulletin, April 12, 1941, p. 449.↩