HOPE FOR NORWAY

Wairarapa Times-Age, 28 August 1940, Page 5

HOPE FOR NORWAY

ONLY IN ALLIED VICTORY KING HAAKON BROADCASTS TO HIS PEOPLE. DEPARTURE INTO EXILE DEFENDED. (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, August 26. King Haakon of Norway, broadcasting to his people, reviewed the events which led him to come to Britain with the Norwegian Government. He recalled that "during the whole first period of the war we were literally hounded from place to place and during Government meetings air-raid warnings were constantly sounded and we had to carry on the discussion even when aeroplanes were above our heads.”

Replying to criticism in certain circles that his departure from Norway caused difficulties for the country and for those who remained, King Haakon said: “I think we did right. If we had stayed in Norway, the present rulers of the country would have been able to force us to accept what they wished. From where we are now we can still represent free Norway. It was clear to me and to the Government that the only possibility of recreating a free Norway lay in the victory of that side! which stands for the right of small nations to live their own I lives.

“I take the opportunity to express the conviction that the Council of Administration in Norway carried out its task splendidly and deserves well of the Fatherland for having assumed the task, heavy as it must be to every true Norwegian, of acting as intermediary between the present rulers and the people of Norway.” King Haakon said that the fact that he was speaking from London was an excellent, proof that the rumour should not be believed that he had gone to America owing to differences of opin-ion-with the British Government.