EVENTS IN NORWAY.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 230, 27 August 1940, Page 7

EVENTS IN NORWAY.

KING DEFENDS ACTIONS. (British Official Wireless.) Received August 27, 11.40 a.m. RUGBY, Aug. 26. King Haakon of Norway, in a broadcast to his people, reviewed the events which had led him to come to Britain with the Norwegian Government. Tlie King recalled that “during the wliolo of the first period of the war we were literally hounded from place to place, and during Government meetings air raid warnings constantly sounded, and we had to carry on tho discussion even when the aeroplanes were above our heads.”

Replying to criticism in certain circles that his departure from Norway had caused difficulties for the country and those who remained, King Haakon said: “I think we did right. If wo had stayed in Norway the present rulers of the country would have been able to force us to accept what they wished. From where we are now, we can still represent free Norway. “It was clear to me and the Government that tho only possibility of recreating a free Norway lay in tlie vicinity of that side which stands for tho right of small nations to live their own lives I take this opportunity to express the conviction that the Council of Administration in Norway has carried out its task splendidly and deserves well of the Fatherland for having assumed tho task, heavy as it must be to every true Norwegian, of acting as an intermediary between the present rulers and the people of Norway. King Haakon said that tho fact that ho was speaking from London was excellent proof that the rumour should not bo believed that lie had gone to America owing to differences of opinion with tho British Government.