GERMAN AGGRESSION

Evening Post, Volume CXXIX, Issue 96, 23 April 1940, Page 10

GERMAN AGGRESSION

ACCOUNT OF EVENTS IN NORWAY

WHITE PAPER ISSUED

UTMOST LIMIT OF CONCILIATION BY

GOVERNMENT

(British Official Wireless.)

(Received April 23, noon.)

RUGBY, April 22;

The translation of, a White Paper issued by Norway on April 14 became available in London last night. It tells in impressive and simple language the story of German aggression against Norway., The account of the events which compelled King Haakon and his Government to leave Oslo and, finally to set about organising from an undisclosed centre resistance by the Norwegians to the German attack demonstrates clearly how Norway went to the utmost limit of conciliation.

The White Paper opens with the, statement that at 5 a.m. on April 9 the German Minister, Dr. Braver, presented to the Norwegian Foreign Minister, Professor Kohl, a number of demands from his Government, and continues: —"Several hours before these demands were presented German forces had already attacked Norway. At about midnight it was learned that foreign warships had passed Faerder and entered Oslo Fiord, and three-quarters of an hour later a report was received that an exchange of fire took place between these warships , and the Norwegian forts of Bolearne and Raver. At about 2 a.m. it was learned that five large German warships had passed the outer fortifications at Bergen.

"At 3.30 a.m. it was reported that two warships had passed Agdenes and entered Trondheim Fiord. At the same time the warships that had entered Oslo Fiord—four large warships and a number of smaller ones —reached Filtvedt, and soon afterwards fighting began between these warships and the coastal forts at Oskarsborg. Fighting was thus already in .full swing, and began also immediately after this outside Ber-ien».-^;"..V-\-- v:;:.: ;.:■.:' ■■■• NAZI DEMANDS PRESENTED. The White Paper then gives a very full summary of a communication made by Dr. Braver to Professor Koht in which Germany sought to justify its claims upon Norway by the pretence • that it possessed proof of an intended Allied occupation, announced the seizure of strategic points, and formulated a series of demands. It is interesting to note that Dr. Braver was cognisant of the fact that a German expedition had left home ports before April 8, and he made no attempt to represent the German action as a reprisal ior British mine-laying. Characteristic detail of the Nazi technique ~ appears iri • the _ White Paper's account of the rest of the interview with Dr. Braver. When Professor Koht said he must consult the whole Government, Dr. Braver replied that the decision must be taken urgently "because the German action had already advanced so far that if it were to be arrested the German demands must be immediately accepted. There was little delay in giving the reply: "The Norwegian Government quickly , decided that no independent country could accept such demands. HITLER'S WORDS THROWN BACK.

In informing the German Minister, Professor Koht "reminded him of the statement recently made by the German Fuhrer that a people who humbly submitted to, aggression without the slightest resistance did not deserve to exist." A later section of the document throws revealing light on the embarrassments in which the Nazis became involved by their too precipitate attempt to emulate the not very happy example provided them by the Soviet in setting up the puppet Government of M. .Kussinen J~i Finland. . On the evening of April 9 a telegram was received at Elverum, to which the Kin ; g, the Government, and the Storting ; had moved after a meeting of the Storting earlier in the day at Hamar which confirmed the Government in office after learning of its action. This telegram asked King

The White Paper records that during the following days the Government had to move from place to place because it was pursued by German aeroplanes everywhere it settled, and particularly, on April 11 fierce bombardments took place at Trysil against King Haakon and the Government.

The document concludes: "The barbarous warfare the German authorities have thus started has compelled the Norwegians temporarily to conceal their resistance. But the fight will be kept up and the Government has been promised military help from the Allied Western Powers. It feels confident, that in collaboration with these States it can save Norway for the Norwegian people."

Haakon to receive the German Minister in , order to discuss certain proposals. . : ■■

I During the night a German detachment, began to advance on Elverum, and the King and the Government, except Professor Koht, left there. However, the German attacks, were repulsed by the Norwegians, and thus King Haakon was able to return and after all receive the German envoy at Elverum on the afternoon ,of April 10. There were conversations first between the King and Dr. Braver and later in the presence of Professor Koht. ALTERED SITUATION. "The German Minister declared that the situation, was 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 in which Germans could have confidence, making possible amicable collaboration between Norway and j Germany. The Government demand- ' ed that Major Quisling be appointed Prime Minister and that the Ministers i be 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 that the Nygaardsvold Government had declared itself willing to resign, and he asked whether the German Government could not consider the creation of a friendly Government which could collaborate with Germany, composed of persons other than those mentioned. Dr. Braver declared that he was prepared to make concessions as to the membership of the Government, but Herr Hitler insisted that Major Quisling must be the Premier." NO GERMAN CONCESSION. Thus Hitler refused, as usual, even to negotiate, and preferred a breach with Norway and all its sequences to abandoning the demand for Major Quisling.' He has been forced subsequently to discard Major Quisling, but the episode' shows once more that in dealing with countries against which he has no grudge Hitler is incapable of negotiating or making the least concession. ' Some hours later the German Minister received the reply that the King could not appoint a'Quisling Government. "Dr. Braver asked whether this meant thaV the Norwegian resistance against the German, invasion would continue, and the Foreign Minister replied 'Yes, as long as possible.' On the same evening the Government agreed upon a proclamation to the Norwegian people which was issued ,on the following morning, and started the organisation of.military resistance against attack."