DANISH SHIPPING

Dominion, Volume 33, Issue 182, 29 April 1940, Page 10

DANISH SHIPPING

Explanation Of Allied Attitude

CONDITIONAL HIRE PAYMENT (British Oflicial Wireless.) (Received April 28. 7.5 p.m.) RUGBY, April 27. The Allied attitude toward the Danish mercantile marine was explained by the Minister of Shipping, Mr. Hudson, in a speech today. He said that so long as a ship was under the Danish Hag she could be requisitioned by the Danish Government which, in the existing circumstances, meant by the Nazis, who dominated the Government of Denmark.

"When we have driven the German merchant fleet from the seas." lie continued. "can anyone expect us to look supinely on and watch the place of that licet be taken by ships flying the Diinisli'lliig, hut under German control, with the proceeds of their earnings going into German pockets? Ju international law we have every right. _ to seize a Danish ship found on the higu seas and condemn her us a lawful prize. By law we can justly condemn her without compensation. Reasonable Hire Kates. "We are .sorry, however, for the Danish owners, and especially tor the Danish masters and crews. We have offered to pay reasonable hire rates for such ships on' two conditions. I'. 11 . .’ that they are transferred to the Britisu or French flag; and secondly, that the proceeds of the hire do not get back to Germany.” After paying a tribute to the British merchant service. Mr. Huds/n pointed out, that while the losses of British shipping through enemy action repre-’ seated 3 per cent, of tlic total British merchant tonnage, this had been almost wholly made good by new building, purchases and captures. "In a recent week,” Mr. Hudson continued, "outgains from new construction and pur- ' (-liases were actually more than double our total losses from all causes.” Speaking of captured ships, Mr. Hudson said be bad had cause to ask why there was such a long time taken to get these running in the British service,, and lie found that in practically all cases the Nazi ships had been neglected and required a thorough overhaul and repairs, while more tliaix half of the crews’ (juarters were so unsatisfactory as to necessitate extensive structural alterations. "This state of affairs,” he added, “.may well relied the economic strain under which Nazi Germany has been living during the last, few years and it augurs well for tlie efleet our blockade must have on her.’’ Before The Invasion. Speaking from the report of a British otiieial living near Copenhagen, Mr. Hudson revealed interesting facts concerning Danish trade before the Nazis’ invasion. Though the Danish Government was under obligation to issue licences under the 1936 trade agreement to Danish importers of British goods, no such licences were forthcoming after a partial issue in January. As a result, by the time of the Gorman invasion the warehouses in the free port were overflowing and importers of United Kingdom goods were clamouring for licences to clear their merchandise, but were unable to obtain them. "What was the reason for this reluctance on the part of the Danes?” Mr. Hudson asked —“a real lack of foreign exchange, the result of direct German pressure, or a wish to be in a position ‘to feed the brute’ and avoid a worse fate. Whatever Hie reason, the plan of the invaders was immediately evident. Early on tlie morning of April 10 all roads to the famous Langelinio harbour and to the free port were blocked by armed guards and a general looting of Copenhagen began. Down adjacent streets began an endless procession of lorries loade'd with goods of every description, drums of oil, grease, rubber tyres, boots, shoes, cement, scrap iron, every conceivable commodity, were rushed in a steady stream. The showrooms of importers of British ears began to be emptied. Everything which tlie maurauders could lay hands on was removed for shipment to parts unknown, but which it was easy to identify.”

Mr. Hudson also revealed that Norway had now joined the interallied shipping executive and thus was working in close co-operation with Britain and France in unified control over the Allied shipping resources.