U.S. PRESS IS DERISIVE

Southland Times, Issue 24056, 21 February 1940, Page 7

U.S. PRESS IS DERISIVE

NAZIS IN PIOUS ROLE ALTMARCK CAPTAIN BROADCASTS RESCUE OF PRISONERS APPLAUDED “VIVE CHURCHILL” SHOUTED IN PARIS (United Press Assn.—Telegraph Copyright) (Received Feb. 20, 11.30 p.m.) NEW YORK, February 20. In a broadcast to the United States full of inconsistencies, Captain Dau, of the Altmarck, said he ordered the crew not to resist because the Altmarck was unarmed: “I was determined to respect Norwegian neutrality at all costs; not one German shot was fired.” Captain Dau added that the English left hurriedly and seemed very nervous. Some prisoners took the opportunity to express thanks for the treatment they had received. The American Press continues to deride Berlin in “the miscast role of the pious plaintiff against a breach of international law.” Even the Hearst Press applauds the raid as “brilliantly conceived and daringly executed. All American comment maintains the British certainly moral, and probably legal, right. Hearst’s New York Daily Mirror says that it is pointless talking about international law. The dramatic daring of the raid had won over American public opinion. The Altmarck incident delighted the peoples of the Danube countries and the Balkans. Britons were stopped and congratulated in the streets of Belgrade. The Paris Bourse responded vigorously to the British naval enterprise in the Altmarck incident. There were frequent cries of “Vive Churchill.” A suggestion by a Norwegian newspaper that Mr Roosevelt preside at an international arbitration tribunal to settle the Altmarck affair is treated cautiously, says a Washington message. The Secretary of State (Mr Cordell Hull) refused to comment. VEILED NAZI THREAT The official German view of the Altmarck incident is that now England has transferred the war to neutral soil a completely new military situation has arisen, of which Germany will take the fullest advantage. Many, including officers and men of the Altmarck and German officials attended the burial of the six men killed, says an Oslo message. Herr Hitler and Herr von Ribbentrop sent wreaths. Norwegian marines formed a guard of honour. A seventh German has died in hospital. The Berlin correspondent of The Daily Mail says that the Norwegian minister (M. Scheel) handed the Foreign Office an aide memoire stating that Norway intends to submit the Altmarck incident to the League of Nations. MR WELLES ON WAY TO EUROPE DISCUSSIONS TO BEGIN IN ITALY NEW YORK, February 19. The correspondent of the United Press of America, who is accompanying the United States Under-Secretary of State (Mr Sumner Welles) on his visit to Europe, in a radio message from the liner Rex say Mr Welles will see Signor Mussolini and the Italian Foreign Minister (Count Galeazzo Ciano) immediately he arrives at Rome on February 27, and will try to lay the basis for collaboration between Italy and America after the war settlement. Italy is represented as being receptive to the suggestions because she feels that Washington recognizes the importance of Italian arbitration. It is believed that the conversations at Rome may set the tenor for the whole of Mr Welles’s mission. The fact that he is not seeing the Pope and the monarchs of Belgium and Holland can be attributed to Mr Roosevelt not wanting the visit to be regarded as a peace mission. Mr Myron Taylor, who has been appointed to represent the United States at the Vatican, will keep in touch with the Pope’s peace plans and will emphasize on his arrival that his mission is not connected with that of Mr Welles. MAGNIFICENT QUALITY OF ANZACS MR EDEN IMPRESSED BY DOMINION TROOPS LONDON, February 19. The Secretary for the Dominions (Mr R. A. Eden) has arrived home. He said the journey was most inspiring. His outstanding impressions were first the magnificent quality of the New Zealand and Australian troops—it was evident they were going to be as good as their fathers and brothers were 25 years ago, and he could give no higher praise—and, second, the excellent effect throughout the Middle East of this further dramatic demonstration of Imperial unity. , „ “New Zealand and Australia, he said, “have spoken a language none can’fail to understand.” Mr Eden also was impressed by the loyal co-operation between the Allies and the Egyptian Government and people in accordance with the letter ot the Anglo-Egyptian Treaty. “We are most grateful for Egypt s help m the common cause,” he said. TOUR OF R.A.F. UNITS OVERSEAS (Received February 20, 7.30 p.m.) RUGBY, February 19. The Under Secretary for Air (Captain H. H. Balfour) landed in England today after a 10 days’ tour by air of Royal Air Force units in the Near East and Middle East. He flew approxig lately 7000 miles and visited units in alestine, Transjordan, Iraq and Egypt.

By special arrangement Reuter's world Service. In addition to other special sources of information, Is used in the compilation of the overseas Intelligence published in thia issue and all rights therein In Australia and New Zealand are reserved.