NORWEGIAN NATIONAL DAY

Southland Times, Issue 24439, 20 May 1941, Page 5

NORWEGIAN NATIONAL DAY

RUGBY, May 17. The following letter has been addressed by the Prime Minister, Mr Winston Churchill, to the Norwegian Prime Minister (M. Jan Nygaardsvold): — “I write to send you my greetings on the occasion of Norwegian National Day and the 127th anniversary of the Norwegian constitution. This constitution enshrines the cardinal, principle of national independence, individual liberty and the rule of law for which the British Commonwealth, Norway and our Allies are fighting today. Although for your countrymen, as Norway is suffering under the wicked Nazi domination, their national day must this year be one of sorrow rather than of rejoicing, their spirit, I know, is unbroken. They share with us and the people of the United States the resolve that the law of freedom and self-gov-ernment shall not perish from the earth. I look forward to happier days to come when the Norwegians and other people now under German oppression will celebrate such days in peace and prosperity.” . King Haakon of Norway has received the following message from the First Lord of the Admiralty, Mr A. V- Alexander:—

“On the anniversary of the Norwegian constitution I desire on behalf of the Board of the Admiralty and the Royal Navy to express to your Majesty our admiration of the gallant fight being waged by the Royal Norwegian Navy in the battle which will lead to the final defeat of our common enemy.