DEMANDS MADE TO NORWAY

Press, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23003, 24 April 1940, Page 9

DEMANDS MADE TO NORWAY

OFFICIAL DOCUMENT ISSUED THE NEGOTIATIONS WITH GERMANY OsmwißH omfcya (Received -April 23, 12.30 pah.) RUGBY, April 22. The translation of a White Rape? issued -fey Norway oh April 14, t which became available in London last night, tells in impressive, simple language the story of the German aggression against Norway, This account of the events which compelled Ring Haakon and his Government to leave Oslo, and finally to set about organising, from ah undisclosed centre, the resistance of the Norwegians to the German attack demonstrates clearly how Norway went to die utmost limit of conciliation. The White paper opens with the statement that at 5 a.m. on April fi the German Minister (Dr. Brauer) presented to the Norwegian Foreign Minister (Professor Koht) a number of demands from his Government, and it continues: ‘‘Several hours before these demands were presented the German forces had already attacked Norway, About midnight it was learned that foreign warships had passed Faerder and entered Oslo fjord, and three-quart-ers of an hour later a report was received that an exchange of fire took place between these warships and the Norwegian forts at Bolearne and Raufer. “About 2 a.m. it was learned that five large German warships had passed the outer fortifications of Bergen. At 3.30 a.m. it was reported that two warships had passed Agdenes and entered Trondheim fjord. At the same time the warships that had entered Oslo fjordfour large warships and a number of smaller ones—reached Filtvedt, and soon afterwards fighting began between these warships and the coastal forts at Oskar.sborg. Fighting was thus already in full swing and it began also immediately after this outside Bergen.** The Nazi Technique The White Paper then gives a very full summary Of the communication made by Dr. Brauer to Professor Koht, in whieh Germany sought to justify her claims upon Norway by the pretence that she possessed proof of ah intended Allied occupation. She announced the seizure of strategic points and formulated a Series of interesting to note , that Dr. Brauer was cognisant of the fact that the German expedition had left Its home ports before April 3, and that he made no attempt to represent the German action as a reprisal for British mine laying. The characteristic detail of the Nazi technique appears in the White PapePs account of the rest of the interview with Dr. Brauer. When Professor Koht said he must consult the. whole Goverument, Dr. Brauer replied that the decision must be taken urgently “because German action had already advanced so far that If it Were to be arrested the German demands must immediately be accepted.** There Was little delay in giving a reply, states. the White Paper, “The Norwegian Government quickly decided that fio in-' dependent country would accept such demands.** In informing the German Minister, Professor Koht “reminded him of the statement recently made by the German Fuehrer that a people who humbly submitted to an aggressor without th§ slightest resistance did not deserve to exist.** A later Section of the document throws a revealing light on jthe embarrassments in which the Nazis became involved by their too precipitate attempt to emulate _ the not Vfery happy example provided th®m by the Soviet in setting up the puppet government of Kuusinen in Finland, On the evening of April 9 a telegram was received at Elverum to which the Kmg, Government, and storthing had moved after ing Of the Storthing earlier in the day at Samar, which confirmed the Government in office. * King ttaakoft’s Reply After learning of its action, this telegram asked King Haakon to receive the German • Minister to discuss certain proposals. During the night a German detachment began to advance on Elverum, and the King and members of the. Government, except Professor. Koht, left there. However, the German attacks were repulsed by the Norwegians, and thus Kihg Saakott WaS able to return, and after all receive the German Envoy at Elverum. On the afternoon of April 10 there were conversations first between King Haakon and Dr. Brauer, and later in the presence of Professor Koht. The German Minister declared th&t the situation had now so altered that the demands presented in the memorandum of the previous day could no longer satisfy the German Government, The German Government must now demand the creation of a new government, m which Germany could have confidence, making possible amicable collaboration between Norway and Germany. The German Government demanded that Major Quisling be appointed Prime Minister, and that his Ministers be the men he had, Chosen for his government, possibly completed by a few other personalities. After the King and Professor Koht had pointed OUt that Major Quisling was Quite without the confidence of the Norwegian people, the Foreign Minister declared tha,i the Nygaadsvold Government had declared Itself willing to resign, and he asked whether the German Government could net consider the ere* ation of a friendly government which could collaborate with Germany, composed of persons other than those mentioned. Dr. Brauer declared that he was prepared to make concessions as to the membership of the government, but Herr Hitler had insisted that Major Quis-' line must he Premier.. . , Thus Herr Hitler refused as usual even to negotiate, and he preferred a breach with Norway and, all its sequences to , abandoning the .demand for Major Quisling. He had been forced subsequently to discard Major Quisling, but the episode