INVASION OF NORWAY

Southland Times, Issue 24112, 29 April 1940, Page 7

INVASION OF NORWAY

ALLIES BLAMED FOR ACTION EXISTENCE OF PLOT ALLEGED WHITE PAPER ISSUED TO DIPLOMATS (United Press Assn.—Telegraph Copyright) (Received April 28, 6.30 p.m.) BERLIN, April 27. The German Foreign Minister (Herr Joachim von Ribbentrop) in an address to members of the Diplomatic Corps, said that the rulers of Britain and France had declared war on Germany on September 3 last year. They had no reason to do so. Herr Hitler had stated Germany’s desire to live at peace with them, but Germany had accepted the battle and was fighting it with all her full power. “As an attack on the West Wall seemed pointless, after the conclusion of the Polish campaign our enemies sought a new means to carry on the war,” he said. “Britain and France are seeking a new scene of war. After the beginning of the year the small countries seemed most suitable. Thus Britain and France sought to have others fight the war and spare themselves as much as possible.”

Herr von Ribbentrop recalled numerous speeches by Mr Churchill, Mr Chamberlain and M. Reynaud, which, he claimed, proved British and French guilt. He also alleged that Mr Churchill did his utmost to prevent a Rus-sian-Finnish peace and also revived the story of tire Allies’ intention to march across Scandinavia regardless of the neutrals’ wishes.

“A large number of documents which has fallen into our hands shows that Sweden maintained an attitude of true neutrality, but Norway actively cooperated with the Allies’ plan to march on Finland,” said Herr von Ribbentrop.

“We took prisoner a British brigade staff and part of the Bth battalion of the 148th Infantry Brigade at Hamar and found an entire plan for the British occupation of Norway, proving that they intended to operate from April 6 and 7. Only German intervention a few hours ahead killed the plans. The Germans have repulsed all British troops facing them in Norway.” ALLIES CHARGED Herr von Ribbentrop, summing up, said that Britain and France had been long preparing foi’ the occupation of Norway, whose Government was ready to enter the fight shoulder to shoulder with Britain and France. Only quick action by Germany forestalled the Allies’ scheme by a few hours. “The resultant declarations made by the rulers of Britain and France since the invasion are lies from the first word to the last,” he said. Herr von Ribbentrop, after the speech, assisted in the distribution of the White Paper. The White Paper purported to show that Britain intended to seize strategic points between April 4 and 7. It contains facsimiles of documents purporting to prove that the Norwegian Foreign Minister (Professor Halvdn Koht) declared that he would protest, but he would not resist the British occupation. British consuls and military circles in Norway allegedly formed a network of espionage in preparation for the British occupation. The Germans allegedly found a document detailing British landings of supplies. Some documents were stated to have been found on a British officer now in Berlin. The White Paper says that swift German action at the last minute stopped the plans of the western Powers. It alleged that there were military orders showing that the sth Battalion of the “Rochesters” (there is no such regiment) was to go aboard at Leith on April 8 for landing in Norway. German troops found a diary in which an entry of April 7 read: “We are bound for Stavanger.” The White Paper claims to prove that the British expedition was already en route to Norway before Germany decided on a counter-blow. Some of the documents are alleged to have fallen into the hands of Germans “after the first engagement between British and Germans in the region of Lillehammer,” on April 22. Despite the statement made by Herr von Ribbentrop it is officially denied in London that any brigadier or his staff have been captured during operations in Norway. FACTS GIVEN IN LONDON Authoritative circles in London commenting on Herr von Ribbentrop’s statement, said that there was no truth in his assertion that the Allies’ plan is to dismember the German nation. The Prime Minister (Mr Neville Chamberlain) has already described this allegation as a malicious mis-statement. On the so-called British plans to invade Scandinavia, Herr von Ribbentrop bases his charges on alleged statements by Mr Churchill and others. The facts are as follows:—

(1) It is true that the British and French Governments, as they have already openly declared, were determined to stop German abuse of Norwegian territorial waters. Hence the decision ‘ lay the mine-fields. (2) The Allied Governments sought permission to send help to Finland via Norway and Sweden. When this was refused they did not proceed with the plan. (3) The Norwegian Government, far

from deciding to enter the war on the Allies’ side, as Herr von Ribbentrop alleges, refused consistently to agree even to the passage of troops to Finland. (4) If troops had been ready for landing in Norway, as Herr von Ribbentrop alleges, there would have been no delay in coming to the assistance of Norway. Such delay as ccurred was due to the necessity of assembling a force. (5) Had the laying of mine-fields been merely a preparation for th" landing, as is alleged, the Allies would not have announced it. They did so purely out of regard for neutral interests, which Germany has so shamefully disregarded. (6) The German expedition, as subsequently admitted on the German wireless, sailed many days before the mine-fields were laid.

(7) It is notorious that the German landing in Norway was made possible by the activities of German secret agents. It is impudent to suggest that British agents had been preparing for a British landing.

(8) The British Government is anxious that neutrals should take steps to protect themselves from German aggression. But it is patently untrue to say that the Allies seek to extend the war.

The view of neutrals is indicated by the fact that none has mobilized in fear of Allied aggression. There is no doubt that the extension of the war to Scandinavia is due to the deliberate action of the German Government. This it now seeks to justify on the basis of alleged documents, of which it had no cognizance when it committed the aggression. It is also interesting to note the absence in Herr von Ribbentrop’s speech of any attempt to justify German aggression against Denmark. Denmark, in short, does not appear to him to be worthy of any mention at all. A message from Budapest states that German aeroplanes are en route to the Governments of south-eastern Europe with a communication from the Nazi Government, which is believed to be the White Paner.