NORWAY DETERMINED TO RESIST

Southland Times, Issue 24109, 24 April 1940, Page 6

NORWAY DETERMINED TO RESIST

MINISTER’S SPEECH IN

LONDON (British Official Wireless) (Received April 23, 7.30 p.m.) RUGBY, April 22. “The people of Norway enjoyed peace for more than 100 years,” said the Norwegian Minister to London (Mr Erik A. Colban) in a speech. “The war in which Norway is now engaged will show that individual freedom and personal liberty of action and opinion do not lessen, rather they increase, the power and resistance of the nation. Every home in Norway is a stronghold of freedom. The enemy may destroy much, but he can never stamp out of Norway the spirit of independence and personal freedom. Norway was taken unawares and in defiance of international law. We were militarily unprepared.” Just because they felt the terrible injustice of their position, the Norwegians were determined to resist aggression to the utmost. Referring to the fact that Canadians were among the British Forces in Norway and to messages of sympathy and material aid received from New Zealand, Mr Colbran said: “I believe the whole British Empire watches Norway’s struggle with a strong feeling of our community interest. I know the Allied Governments have taken vigorous action for a battle to be fought on Norwegian soil. I trust the action will be very strong and rapid.”

COMMUNISTS ARRESTED IN FRANCE (Received April 23, 7.30 p.m.) PARIS, April 22. Police arrested 74 communists employed in arms factories and confiscated thousands of copies of a clandestine newspaper.