STORY OF NAZI AGGRESSION

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 84, Issue 95, 24 April 1940, Page 6

STORY OF NAZI AGGRESSION

WHITE PAPER ISSUED BY NORWAY

UTMOST LIMIT OF CONCILIATION BY GOVERNMENT

[ British Official Wireless. I

RUGBY, April 22. The translation of a White Paper issued by Norway on April 14 became available in London last night. It. tells in impressive and simple language the story of German aggression against Norway. The account of the events which’ compelled King Haakon and his Government to leave Oslo and finally 1o set about organising, from an undisclosed centre, resistance by the Norwegians to the German attack, demonstrattes clearly how Norway went to the utmost limit of conciliation.

The White Paper opens with the statement that at 5 a.m. on April 9 the German Minister, Dr. Brauer, presented to the Norwegian Foreign Minister. Professor Koht, a number of demands from his Government, and continues:— “Several hours before these demands were presented German forces had already attacked Norway. At about midnight it was 1 earned that foreign warships had passed Faerder and entered Oslo Fiord, and three-quarters of an hour later a report was received that an exchange of fire took place between these warships and the Norwegian forts of Bolearne and Race. “At about 2 a.m. it was learned that five large German warships had passed the outer fortifications at Bergen. “At 3.30 a.m. it was reported that two warships had passed Agdenes and entered Trondheim Fiord. At the same time the warships that had entered Oslo Fiord—four large warships and a number of smaller ones—rc ?n--ed Filtvedt. and soon afterwards fighting began between these warships and the coastal forts at Oskarsborg. Fighting was thus already in full swing, and began also immediately after this outside Bergen.” Nazi Demands Presented The White Paper then gives a very full summan of a communication made by Dr. Brauer to Professor Koht in which Germany sought to justify its claims upon Norway by the pretence that it possessed proof of an intended Allied occupation, announced lhe seizure of strategic points, and formulated a series of demands. It is interesting to note that Dr. Brauer was cognisant of the fact that a German expedition had left home ports before April 8. and he made no attempt to represent the German action as a reprisal for British mine-laying. Charasteristic detail of the Nazi technique appears in the White Paper’s account of the rest of the interview with Dr. Brauer. When Professor Koht said he must consult the whole Government. Dr. Brauer replied that the decision must be taken urgently, “because the German action had already advanced so far that if it were to be arrested the German demands must be immediately accepted.” There was little delay in giving the reply: “The Norwegian Government quickly decided that no independent country could accept such demands.”

Hitler’s Words Thrown Back In informing the German Minister. Professor Koht “reminded him of the statement recently made by the German Fuhrer that a people who humbly submitted to aggression without the slightest resistance did not deserve to exist." A later section of the document throws revealing light on the embarrassments in which the Nazis became involved by their too precipitate attempt to emulate the not very happy example provided them by the Soviet in setting up the puppet Government of M. Kussinen in Finland. On the evening of April 9 a telegram was received at Elverum, tc which the King, the Government, and the Storting had moved after a meeting of the Storting earlier in the day at Hamar. which confirmed the Government in office alter Learning of its action. This telegram asked King Haakon to receive the German Minister in order to discuss certain proposals. During I hr night a German detachment b?gan fo advance on Elverum.

and the King and the Government, except Professor Koht, left there. However, the German attacks were rer pulsed by the Norwegians, and thus King Haakon was able to return and after all receive the German envoy at Elverum on the afternoon of April 10. There were conversations first between the King and Dr. Brauer and later in the presence nf Professor Koht.

Altered Situation “The German Minister declared ■ that the situation was now so ' altered that the demands presented in the memorandum of the previous day could no longer satisfy the German Government. The German Government must now demand the creation of a new Government in which Germans could have confidence, making possible amicable j collaboration between Norway and Germany. The Government demandied that Major Quisling be appointee 'Prime Minister and that the Ministers be men he had chosen for his Government. possibly completed by a fewother personalities.” After the King and Professor Koht had pointed out that Major Quisling was quite without the confidence of the Norwegian people, the “Foreign Minister declared that the Nygaardsvoid Government had declared itself willing to resign, and he asked whether the German Government could not consider the creation of a friendly Government which could collaborate with Germany, composed of persons other than those mentioned. I Dr. Brauer declared that he was prepared to make concessions as to the membership of the Government, but Herr Hitler insisted that Major Quisling must be the Premier.” No German Concession Thus Hitler refused, as usual, j even to negotiate, and preferred i a breach with Norway and all its ' sequences to abandoning the demand for Major Quisling. He has been forced subsequently to discard Major Quisling, but the episode shows once more that in dealing with countries against which he has no grudge Hitler is incapable of negotiating or making the least concession. Some hours later the German Minister received the reply that the King could not appoint a Quisling Government. “Dr. Brauer asked whether this meant that the Norwegian resistance

against the German invasion »voub continue, and the Foreign Minister re plied ‘Yes, as long as possible.’ On the same evening the Government agreei upon a proclamation to the Norwegiai people which was issued on the fot lowing morning, and started th organisation of military resistanc against attack.” I The White Paper records that dur j ing the following days the Govern Iment had to move from place to plac* I because it was pursued by Germa 1 aeroplanes everywhere it settled : and particularly on April 11 fierc [bombardments took place at Trysi ; against King Haakon and the Gov I ernment. . The document concludes: “The bar I barous warfare the German authori I ties have thus started has compelleI the Norwegians temporarily to con ’ ceal their resistance. But the figb will he kept up and the Governmen has been promised military help fror the Allied Western Powers. It. fee] • confident that in collaooration wit j these States it can save Norway fo i the Norwegian people.”