NEUTRAL INTERESTS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 9 April 1940, Page 5

NEUTRAL INTERESTS

DISCUSSED IN BRITAIN THE GERMAN POLICY OF OUTRAGE. DRASTIC REMEDY NEEDED. (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, April 7. , Steps incidental to the Allied determination, announced on Tuesday by Mr Chamberlain, to prosecute the economic war against Germany to the utmost power are the chief subject of Sunday newspaper comment. The “Sunday Times” describes the tightening of economic pressure upon Germany as the most urgent task of the moment. and considers that "especially on the side of weak neutrals which lie to the north-west,and south-east of Hitler's dominions,-, it will become essential to adopt more drastic policies. “The relation to Germany of neutrals both to the north-west and the south-east, is that of threatened men. Against the Scandinavians and the Dutch she commits outrages jvith impunity. She sinks their ships and murders their seamen. There are acts of war from which war would follow were not the parties so unequally matched.” The “Sunday Times” regards the position of north-western neutrals as highly paradoxical, since “they have an interest in an Allied victory almost greater than that of the Allies themselves Not one of them would survive as a free country if Germany were to win the war. “Yet here they are hardening the rod for their own backs—Sweden and Norway are supplying indispensable iron ore. “If they will not voluntarily stand up for their own interests, we must consider how to persuade them to do so. It will scarcely be possible for us in solving there problems to observe throughout the letter of international law against an enemy who rides roughshod over it, both in the letter and the spirit. There are limits to the extent to which rules of any kind can be observed one-sidedly. Certain it is, however, that we shall never be the first to break them.” Mr J. L. Garvin, in the “Observer,” says: “The German dilemma is now plain and inexorable. History knows none more fateful. If they wait, conquering supremacy in every respect will pass to the Allies. The Nazis must strike or fall.”

STRONG PRESSURE ANTICIPATED BY NEUTRALS. GERMAN BREACH OF RULES RECOGNISED. (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, April 7. Extracts from the Norwegian and Swedish Press reflect the appreciation of those countries of the necessity for increasing the severity of Allied economic measures against Nazi Germany. The newspaper "Morgan Avisen,” of Bergan (Norway), reacting to the latest German attacks on Norwegian vessels, writes: "The Norwegian Government ought to let the German Government understand that we may be forced to revise the whole of our standpoint to Germany, if some arrangement is not arrived' at which improves the conditions.'’ In Sweden, the Stockholm “Tidningen” interprets Mr Churchill's new position as proof that "Britain is to act with full determination and will exploit her vast resources. We have no reason to expect a British attack, but we must be prepared for strong pressure and trade restriction.” The “Social Demokraten” pertinently observes: “One wonders why Britain should observe rules systematically broken by Germany." It adds: “Pessimists predict the war will last five years, but it is possible that the tremendous Allied effort will crush Germany economically sooner than many think."