TENSION IN EUROPE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 15 April 1940, Page 5

TENSION IN EUROPE

ANXIETY OF NEUTRAL STATES WIDENING AND DEEPENING. ALLIES READY TO DEFEND SWEDEN. Tension through the European neutral States is widening and deepening. A message from The Hague says that a Dutch Royal decree extends martial law to the provinces of North Brabant, Graningen, Drente and Overyssel. thus placing the whole country wholly or partially under emergency control. Air raid exercises have been carried out. and British residents warned to be ready to leave at the shortest notice, and, in the event of emergency, to report at the consulates in Rotterdam and Amsterdam with only hand luggage.

The Government has announced that HollaTid will maintain her independence, and will not enter precautionary military agreements with any of the belligerents. The Belgian army has placed guards on all public buildings, ministries, radio stations, air fields, and post offices. thus completing all except the final stage of full mobilisation. It is announced that Belgium is purchasing from the United States fighter planes capable of 430 miles an hour. King Leopold conferred with his Cabinet and received the Norwegian Minister. Accelerated defensive preparations in Sweden, Belgium and Holland and a new crop of rumours throughout the Balkans indicate that the diplomatic war is not slackening, but here again the Allies appear lo have assumed the initiative. A Paris message states authoritatively that the Allies have decided to give Sweden their fullest help in the event of a German invasion. The war committee of the French Cabinet, which usually meets only for discussion of the most important news and moves, sat for two hours in the Eylsee Palace. Ambassadors and the Swedish Minister. General Gamelm, Admiral Darlan, and Air Marshal Vuillemin attended the meeting in addition to President Lebrun, the Premier, M Reynaud and the heads of the Defence Ministries. NAZI THREATS IMPATIENCE WITH SWEDEN. EARLY DEMANDS LIKELY. LONDON. April 14. The Amsterdam “Telegraf” reports that a Wilhelmstrasse spokesman said: “Germany is reaching the end of her patience with Sweden, and has seriously warned her to discontinue her an'ti-German Press and radio campaign.” The “Telegrafs” Berlin correspondent adds that more concrete demands on Sweden can be expected in the near future. A Stockholm message says that steel helmeted troops and sandbags lining tlie capital's streets symbolise Sweden's intensive preparations. Guns and army lorries are constantly traversing the city, and the evacuation of Gothenburg and other west coast towns has been speeded up. Troops have taken up positions on the Norwegian border in view of tiie possibility of a German advance in southern Norway.