ATTACK ON BRITAIN

Wairarapa Times-Age, 20 February 1940, Page 5

ATTACK ON BRITAIN

FLAGRANT BREACH OF NEUTRALITY ALLEGED BY DR HAMBRO. TALK OF STOPPING TRADE. OSLO, Gebruary 19. Dr Hambro, President of the Norwegian Parliament, when interviewed today declared: “The British action is the most flagrant violation of the territory of any neutral in this war. It is more serious than we have experienced from the German sea war, against which united neutral action will now be postponed. “We have been on the eve of concluding a trade agreement with Britain. but there is reason to fear that the Cossack has obtained the result, for which the German navy had striven in vain for months—the stopping of Norwegian ships going to England. "The discussion on Anglo-Norwegian trade and shipping obviously has entered a new stage.” Norwegian newspapers support their Government’s protest (stales a Daventry report). One commented that, the Altmarek appeared to have fooled the Norwegian naval authorities, but considers that it had not violated. Norwegian neutrality. Another comments that the German protest can be understood, but not the violent language of the Gorman wireless ahd Press. A DUTCH OPINION. Mixed views are contained in most of the other neutrals' comments. A noted Dutch authority on international law remarked: "The Altmarek entered Norwegian waters unlawfully and her prisoners should have been set free. The Norwegian authorities scorn to have been deceived, and Britain was entirely justified in insisting on a more thorough search. But Britain should have protested and not removed the men herself.”

Speaking of the German indignation, he compared the Altmarek incident with the kidnapping incident on the Dutch border in November, which was much more serious. Then the Germans kidnapped two Britishers in Dutch territory and also shot two Dutchmen. In the Josen Fiord incident the British shot, no Norwegians. In Sweden the papers publish the British and German view and comment is reserved. Danish seamen met today in Copenhagen and suggested stopping all sailling in the North Sea until England provides control ports outside England and Germany ceases torpedoing without warning. Rome newspaper headings give the impression that Britain alone violated Norwegian neutrality, but there is little editorial comment and no official comment. According to Reuter, the ordinary man in the street merely shrugs his shoulders and says that all three countries were to blame. They also express pleasure that the prisoners were rescued from such appalling conditions.