NEUTRAL STATES.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17279, 21 September 1916, Page 8

NEUTRAL STATES.

DENMARK’S ATTITUDE. REPORT FROM AMERICA. ’ MAY JOIN THE ALLIES. } n i. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. NEW YORK, September 19. The “Globe” gives great prominence to a message from Paris stating that Denmark may enter the war with the Allies to -recover the Danish portion of Schleswig-Holstein. DANISH VISITOR’S VIEWS. *NOT LIKELY TO ENTER THE WAR. Some interesting opinions on Denmark’s attitude were obtained recently by an Auckland “Star” representative from Mr Sigurd Lettrup, a visiting Danish singer, who was at Kiel in the early stages of the war, to whom it was mentionrd that rumours were in circulation that Denmark would probably join the Allies. “I don’t believe it,” was the remark of the visiting Dane, as he proceeded to explain that, in the first place, Denmark was not financially strong enough to faco the losses incurred by war. . Further, she had comparatively speaking a mere handful of trained men-• something like 100,000 in the field—who were the product of the mild form of compulsory training which prevailed in his country. “Looking at everything,” he added, “ I think it will '“be absolutely impossible for poor old ■Denmark to go to war.” “The way the Germans have since treated the people of Schleswig,” he added, " is absolutely maddening. I will give you an example. If the military guard sees two people standing together in the street for purposes of conveisation, they will be shown ‘i out of the country in less than twentyfour hours. If they wear the colours contained in the Danish Bag (red and white) they will be arrested and prohibited from doing so again.” Mr Lettrup remarked that since he came to New Zealand (through Germany, Switzerland and Italy) he had

regularly received Danish newspapers, and from these he learned that the old feeling of antagonism had been intensified. The people of Schleswig cherished a dream of reverting to Danish rule. Their case was different from that of Holstein, where tho population was largely German, oven before 1866. Therefore Denmaro. would be exceedingly happy to secure the return of Schleswig alone. In fact, it was thought.that tins should be an essential part of any settlement which aimed at maintaining tho future peace of Europe. Asked if it was probable that bis country expected the return of Schleswig without participating in tho war, Mr Lettrup replied in the affirmative. “ Let tho ‘Allies return Schleswig to Denmark.” ho observed, “and declare tho Kiel Canal a neutral zone to oe protected by armed forces from tho Allied countries. That is what Denmark regards ns hor lawful right. The soldiers of Schleswig under the German system of compulsion have been fighting with the Central Powers all through, and tho Gormans say they are clever soldiers, but their sympathies are with all ;the time. They fight in th'b German Anriy because they are compelled. In Schleswig alone there are probably 200.000 soldiers as compared with 100.000 in the whole of Denmark. The Danish people feel very keenlv for tho Schleswig soldiers, and have been doing a lot for their wounded and for tho dependants of those who have fallen. Both hope that some day they will bo reunited.”