WITHOUT COUNTRY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23661, 21 May 1940, Page 5

WITHOUT COUNTRY

DANISH DIPLOMAT ARRIVAL IN AUSTRALIA POST AS CONSUL-GENERAL [I'RO.M OUII OWN COItUKSPONUKXT] SYDNEY, May 15 Danish diplomat without a country, Count Erik Schak. arrived in Sydney still unaware of what his position will bo in Australia. Since the German invasion lie lias liad no word from Denmark. When the Nazis invaded Denmark ho was on his way to Sydney to take over the post of Consul-General. His ship was nenring Colombo when another passenger informed him that he had heard by wireless that Denmark had been over-run. Count "Schak, who is tall, with a shock of grey hair, a tanned complexion and blue eyes, entered the Danifjh diplomatic service in 1917, and since has served in. Switzerland, Rome, Canada, Helsiiigfors and Hamburg. His last post was as Charge d'Affaires in Switzerland. "I have received a cablegram sent by way of Holland," he said, "telling the countess and mp that our relatives are. well. I have two sons. One was attending a school for farming, , and the other was at college. Everything came as a complete surprise, to rne. We were a neutral country. We did'not express'our feelings. That is all 1 can say. Denmark had been rearming to an extent. Her army' was small, but good, and the material was good.", Count Schak said that his title dated back to 1670. Since he came to Australia lie had been treated with the utmost kindness by the Australian authorities. They had showed great understanding, for which he wished to express appreciation.