NORWAY’S DEFAULT

Wairarapa Times-Age, 21 February 1940, Page 6

NORWAY’S DEFAULT

CRITICISED BY BRITISH PREMIER COMPLETE FAILURE TO ACT IN ALTMARCK CASE. TOLERATED VIOLATION . OF NEUTRALITY. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Dav. 10.47 a.m.) RUGBY February 20. The Prime Minister (Mr N. Chamberlain) in the House of Commons, said that 299 officers and men were rescued from the Altmarck. They had been closely confined for periods of up to more than three months. He felt bound to say that the ac-

count of Mr Koht (Norwegian Foreign Minister) made the action or rather inaction of Norway even more difficult to understand than he had previously supposed. “We had imagined that the Norwegian authorities had conducted some examination of the Altmarck, said Mr Chamberlain, “and our complaint was that this examination had been so perfunctory that it did not reveal the presence of British prisoners on board. It now appears, however, that the Norwegian authorities conducted no examination of the ship at all. I find it difficult, in the circumstances, to resist the conclusion that the Norwegian authorities displayed complete indifference as to the use which might be made of their territorial waters by the German Fleet.”

Mr Chamberlain’s statement was cheered on all sides of the House. Britain, Mr Chamberlain continued, had received no official communication apart from the original protest handed to Lord Halifax on Saturday, but all would probably have read Press accounts showing Mr Kohl’s statement. After briefly reviewing the incident leading to the rescue of the British prisoners, ns described in Mr Koht s statement, Mr Chamberlain said it would be seen “that on not one occasion, but on three or four, the Norwegian authorities failed to carry out a proper investigation of the case. It was not until after their refusals that his Majesty's ships took action against the Altmarck, and it is plain that if they had not done so. the ship would have been allowed io complete her voyage to Germany without let or hindrance, and without any inquiry into the circumstances. According to the views expressed by Mr Koht, Norway sees no objection to the use of Norwegian territorial waters for hundreds of miles by a German warship for the purpose of escaping capture on the high seas." FULL REPORTS ON ALTMARCK INCIDENT AWAITED RY BRITISH GOVERNMENT. NORWAY TAKEN TO TASK. (.Received This Day, 12.10 p.m.) LONDON. February 20. In his statement in the House of Commons, Mr Chamberlain said the Government was at present awaiting full reports from naval officers concerning the Altmarck incident but he was sure the House would join with the Government in the satisfaction they felt at the release of the officers and crews after their long ordeal, and that members would desire to congratulate the Navy most heartily upon this notable addition to its annals. Referring to Norway’s attitude, he continued, even the fact that the Norwegian authorities'discovered that, the Altmarck had used her wireless in Norwegian territorial waters, thus violating Norwegian regulations, did not lead the Norwegian authorities to take action, beyond making a complaint and accepting an apology, based on the statement of the Altmarck’s captain that he was not acquainted with the Norwegian prohibition. Claiming that he found it difficult, in the circumstances, to resist the conclusion that the Norwegian authorities had displayed complete indifference regarding the use to which the Gorman Fleet might put Norwegian territorial waters, Mr Chamberlain said that oven if such indifference were due to German pressure, it nevertheless would be inconsistent with the active and impartial exercise of the duty of a neutral towards ourselves as belligerents. Norway's doctrine would legalise the abuse by German warships of neutral waters and create a position which Britain could under no circumstances accept. Loud cheers punctuated the speech. Mr Alexander (Labour) said the Opposition was pleased with Mr Chamberlain’s statement and desired to associate themselves with the satisfaction he had expressed at the Navy’s rescue of three hundred men from durance vile. In the House of Lords Earl Stanhope made a statement similar to Mr Chamberlain’s. FREE TO SAIL ALTMARCK CAPTAIN'S Cl AIM. NO RESTRAINT IMPOSED BY NORWAY. (Received This Day. 1.15 p.m.) OSLO. February 20. The captain of the Altmarck declared that he was now free to sail his ship. Norway has not placed any restraint, but tugs are needed to pull the Altmarck. which is ice-bound, oil the rocks. The newspaper "Aftonbladet" says it is grotesque that the Norwegian Navy should protect foreign submarines “sinking our ships and killing ot.tr people." GERMAN IDEA BRITAIN SEEKING AID FROM NEUTRALS. (Received This Dav. 1.15 p.m.) BERLIN. February 20. The OlTicial News Agency states that. Mr Chamberlain's reprimand to Norway proves that Britain is openly demanding military aid from neutrals. DANISH PROTESTS MADE TO BRITAIN AND GERMANY (Received ’litis Dav. 1.15 p.m.) COPENHAGEN.' February 20. Danish seafarers' organisations have sent an open letter to the British and German governments. The letter to Britain protests against

the Government forcing neutral seamen transporting necessities to Denmark. to go into control harbours and war zones'. It suggests that Britain should not compel neutral ships sailing between neutral countries to enter danger zones. The letter to Germany protests against sinkings without warning.