FRESH UNREST IN NORWAY

Press, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 23748, 21 September 1942, Page 4

FRESH UNREST IN NORWAY

♦- RESISTANCE TO QUISLING

350,000 UNIONISTS RESIGN (Rec. 10.30 p.m.) LONDON. Sept. 19,

Major Quisling’s plans to summon the Riksting, or “corporative parliament,” have been frustrated by the mass resignation of 350,000 Norwegian trade unionists, acting ini a united front with their Norwegian employers. Defying threats of long imprisonment, they quitted their Nazifled organisations, and thereby provoked a conflict between .Major Quisling and Germany. Their action received the immediate support of other Norwegian organisations, and strong protests against the announced plans for the new Riksting have been sent to the Quisling authorities from all quarters. Major Quisling was planning to summon the Riksting on September 25, and it was known that he hoped/it would provide a legal base for his regime and enable him to conclude "peace" with Germany on behalf of Norway, Norway would then adhere to the AntiComintern Pact, raise an army, and fight with Germany, Growing bitterness over his plans caused such serious unrest that orders were issued from Berlin last week that plans for the Riksting must be indefinitely postponed and that Quislings between 18 and 45 must join the German forces. Confusion and dismay now reign in the ranks of the Quislings, because prominent members of the party have already received orders to proceed to the Russian front.

Protest meetings are reported and some are reported to be .attempting to escape to Sweden.