DEFENCE PACT.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 60, Issue 133, 16 March 1940, Page 6

DEFENCE PACT.

NORWAY DIVIDED. SWEDEN MORE FAVOURABLE. ■ ' ’' . i (United' Press Association Copyright.) (Received This Day, 2.30 p.m.) LONDON; March 15. With regard to the proposed alliance between Finland, Norway and. Sweden, the Norwegian Foreign Minister (M. Koht) emphasised that Norway was merely pledged to discuss the possibility of a pact which -was not even draftedi . Norwegians are debating the Pact; keenly, many urging non-acceptance Swedish opinion is- more favourable. According to a semi-official statement from,'the Wilhelmstrasse, there is no reason for. Germany to oppose the alliance. t , Dr. Ryti (the; Finnish Foreign Minister), interviewed,_ said “The alliance does not conflict with the RussianFinnish Treaty. An early conclusion of the pact is essential. Sweden and Norway are now in the same boat as Finland. The alliance will save the stability of all.” A message from Moscow states that officials deny that the railway to Kemittrask will threaten Sweden, and states that it. will merely augment .RussianSwedish trade..

SCANDINAVIAN DEFENCE.

PLANS SPEEDED UP

(Received This Day, 2 p.m.) LONDON, Miirch 15. Sweden and Norway are speeding up their defences. Finland has called up the 18-year-olds in preparation for building new defences on the dictated frontiers. Sweden has announced that some £2,000,000 will be used for the purchase of 144 fighters from America. The Swedish Commander-in-Chief has formulated a plan for a network of forces of riflemen specially trained to. fight parachute troops. Norway has, approved a further sum of £571,000 for the Army “because of international developments since the Budget was drawn up.”