ILLEGAL WARFARE

Waikato Times, Volume 126, Issue 21052, 2 March 1940, Page 7

ILLEGAL WARFARE

SINKING OF SHIPS PROTEST BY NORWAY NAZI METHODS CRITICISED (United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. copyright) OSLO, Feb. 29 The Norwegian Foreign Minister. M. Koht, stated that all Norwegian ships known to have been deliberately sunk were sunk by the Nazis. Norway had lost 50 ships since the outbreak of the war, involving the loss of 350 lives. U-boats and German aircraft sank nine ships and mines were responsible for most of the remainder. Protests made three weeks ago had not brought an answer. Germany’s illegal sea warfare had endangered the natural commerce between Norway and her friends. Norway did not like the British contraband control, added M. Koht, and she had declared that it was contrary to international law. Nevertheless, if the English forced Norwegian ships to be controlled, that did not give Germany the right to sink them. Denmark, Sweden and Norway were separately making application for a cessation of mine-laying, because it violated international law. Remedy Rests With Neutrals The outspoken speech by the* Norwegian Foreign Minister, M. Koht, has attracted much attention in London. The Daily Telegraph states: “It might well seem to Scandinavian States that it was the deliberate Nazi policy to provoke them out of their neutrality by making it intolerably burdensome. Whether that is so or not will be seen when the protests of the Scandinavian Governments are presented and answered. What seems certain is that tame acquiescence in the existing state of things has become no longer possible.” The Manchester Guardian says: “It is not as though Germany, in her disgraceful attacks on neutral shipping, has treated them all alike, as would be expected. It is the ships of the smaller and weaker neutrals which are sent down. If the small neutral countries act boldly together, wielding the powerful weapon of unity, then Germany may bluster, but she will think twice.”

The Guardian adds: “M. Koht has appealed for the diplomatic help of other neutrals, and it is well known that their fortunes are watched with the greatest sympathy by the United States.

“The neutrals are not without means of reply to the acts which M. Koht said ‘have thrown a shadow over German sailors.’ “He hinted that if they continued the trade relations on which Germany depends so much would be endangered. This is a language that Germany will understand, especially if the neutrals speak it with one voice, for she takes advantage of weakness and respects strength alone.” Action by Estonia Meanwhile, according to a press report, the Estonian Government has, as a result of a strong protest by the Seamen’s Union against the Nazi methods of sea warfare, issued an order forbidding Estonian merchant vessels to navigate the North Sea and other dangerous waters, except under convoy. The possibility that other Baltic and Scandinavian States, where the success of the British convoy system is recognised, may shortly follow the Estonian example, is discussed.