THE CHINA MAIL, FEBRUARY 20, 1940
NEUTRALITY FAILED American Jurists Support Britain's Action
GRIM HUMOUR OF THE ANGRY NAZI CRIES OF OUTRAGE
London, To-day.
SWEDEN AND DENMARK more or less support Norway's view of the Altmark incident, if their newspapers from any criterior, although they are not impressed by the frenzied outbursts of the Nazi press and radio.
GERMAN
SAILORS FED UP
London, To-day.. Some of the German soamen of the 3,000-ton steamer Morea, which WIE captured, together with a cargo of manganese ore, and brought safely to Britain state that they were fed up with being cooped up in a Spanish port since the beginning of the war and had decided to risk their luck and run for home.-Reuter.
NEW ANZAC DIVISIONS MAGNIFICENT
London, To-day,
Mr. Anthony Eden, Secre- tary for the Dominions, re- turned to England yesterday from a visit to the Near East, in which he welcomed the Australian and New Zealand forces. He was away for 10 days, during which time he has flown 6,000 miles.
He said that there were three ma- as a peaceful, innocent merchantman to for impressions he secured.
The first was the magnificent qual- be assisted through neutral territorial
and New Zea-. waters with the kindly escort of neu-ity of the Australian
Outside of these countries, the British action is felt
by three noted American jurists to have been en-tal warships, then there is an end land forces; they were going to be as tirely justified.
Dr. Sellers, of the State University of Leydon (Hol- land) states that the Altmark was in Norwegian waters illegally and Britain was entitled to in- sist on a more through search. He does not feel that the British should have removed the pri- soners themselves.
In America, the "New York Herald- Tribune" sees "grim humour" in the angry cries of outraged morality be- ing vehemently emitted from Berlin. Germany, whose Nazi rulers make brute force a deity, tears up treaties, torpedoes neutral shipping, sows mines indiscriminately, etc., has had tables turned on her in a relatively
mild way.
NEUTRALITY FAILED
the
said nothing about any British sailors on board. Later, it was announced that a few British sailors were on the Altmark; no indication was given as to how many, and indeed, from the official broadcast, one might be for- given for thinking they were only tourists.
Finally, it was announced that 133 British prisoners were on the Altmark. In actual fact, about twice that num- Both the "Now York Herald ber were actually taken off. Reu- Tribune" and the "New York Times" | ter.
feel that Norway's neutrality falled
to international law and common good as the men who came up from sense."Havas.
"Down Under" 25 years ago, and there ACTION JUBTIFIED
could be no higher praise. London, To-day.
The second was the excellent ef- The Cairo newspapers "El Mokat-fect produced in the Middle East and tan" and "El Balagh" publish editor-in the world generally by this distinct als justifying the British action in demonstration of Imperial unity. the Altınark incident and describing The third was the loyal co-opera- it as the greatest feat after the Graftion of the Egyptian Government and Spee, depriving Germany of the fruits people. There was no doubt that they of piracy and repudiating the refer-appreciated very clearly how closely ence. by Germany to international law Interwoven was their national destiny after its repeated violations of it with Britain's; Britain had every rea- Reuter.
son to be grateful for this and for the the help Egypt is so freely giving in common cause.-Reuter.
NAZIS TO REPUDIATE WORD AGAIN
London, To-day. The German Wireless
when she overlooked the presence of Norway Broke The Rules yesterday announced that
300 British prisoners on board.
In Paris, the French press are whole-heartedly behind the British in the Altmark. case............
(SPECIAL TO "CHINA MAIL")
Paris, To-day.
L'Oeuvre" also warns the neutrals that they must not abandon their neutral attitude simply because Ger-national many makes the most noise!
NAZI THREATS
GERMANY'S INCAPACITY
(BPECIAL TO "CHINA MAIL")
Amsterdam, To-day. The Altmark case and sub- Germany was going to re- sequent German threats are pudiate the London Submar-proving once more Ger- Brline Convention, under which, many's incapacity to take the among other things, she military or political initia- agreed not to torpedo mer- tive, in the opinion of politi- chantships until the crew had cal circles in Amsterdam been put in a place of safety.
The press warmly approves tain's action In the Allmark affair.”
The "Petit Parisien" states: "Inter-
lay was
unquestionably violated by the Altmark's captain who by hiding his cargo of captives and his guns."
deliberately deceived the Norwegians
After the first threats to Norway There is, of course, a violent cam-
The "excuse" is that British ships and the announcement of "terrible re- paign seething through the German
"L'Oeuvre" says, "If there Was are now arming themselves against prisals," the Nazi attitude has already press and wireless over the Altmark
who broke the rules of the attacks of U-boats and aeroplanes. changed and semi-official circles in incident, a campaign which has reach- somebody
Such arming for defence purposes Berlin are telling neutral pressmen ed a pitch which bears very favour-neutrality, in this case it was Norway.
We will never attack small able comparison with similar
states. is clearly permitted by International that the "Altmark case is a deliberate and We only endeavour to paigns against Czechoslovakia
understand law, and, in any event, the Nazi re- British provocation to extend the con- their attitude. Oslo did not Poland.
want pudiation has not caused much sur-flict and draw the Relch into taking "trouble," especially with Germany.prise in London, since it is pointed rash initiatives."
The present "test case" will pro- The Altmark was visited as a matter out-the Nazis have already repudiat-
cam-
Coupled with this are vague threats that "Great Britain will have to pay for this" and more subdued hints to Norway that it will not be enough for her just to protest.
To support all this violent cam- paign. the Nazis have naturally in- vented all kinds of accusations,
FALSE ALLEGATIONS. One of these is that the Altmark Was an unarmed merchant vessel. This allegation was repeated Sunday night in a broadcast to German lis- teners, although on Sunday afternoon an official spokesman had told the foreign press that the was a naval
Skiliary,
•
Another is that HMS. Cossack the opened her machine-guns on Altmark's' intrmed crew. This, of course," has no basis in tack,
The only violence shown was when the boarding party forced the detain away from the engine-room tale gradh; he was still trying to sink
shot.
Later, a British :officer was. and wounded and only then did the British open fire after the armed guard from the Graf Spee had dush- ed ashore and themselves opened Are
the shift.
real value they must attach to threats with which Germany is bullying them. -Havas.
of form and her captain's statements ed it on many occasions by their ac-bably serve to reveal to neutrals the were accepted blindly. Thẹ ship was tions.-Reuter. therefore allowed to remain in Nor- wegian waters with her prisoners Aboard," Havas.
PASSIVITY 18 NOT NEUTRALITY
Paris, To-day. The spirit and form of Britain's protest to Norway over the Altmark affair are entirely approved here.
In the opinion of well-informed observers Norway, like Sweden, ap- pears to be adopting. "passive neu- trality," But it is stressed that neu. trality Involves duties and passivity is not neutrality.
PURCHASE OF U.S. SHIPS
Brussels, To-day.
Of sight American ships owned by the United States Line which have been sold to a Belgian company, the largest is the President Harding, 13,889 tons.
ALTMARK CHARGE
Berlin, To-day. A charge that British sailors who boarded the Altmark looted the quar-
It is learned that she will be reters of the captain and crew before leaving is made by the captain of named City of Brussels-Reuter.
the German ship, according to the Buro, the Deutsches Nachrichten⠀⠀⠀⠀
He is also quoted as saying that a official Nazl news agency.
bullet 'during the fighting. British officer was struck by a British -Reuter.
Norway's attitude over the Altmark and Sweden's refusal of Finland's re-
*** Launched at New York in 1821, quest for military ald are considered
similar aspects. It is held the President Harding (ex President to have that their passivity means in effect Taft, ex Lone Star State) is 516 feet that they are submitting without long. She has two decks, a shelter she is reaction to the pressure the Germans deck and a shade deck and a cruiser
Fitted for oil-fuel, stern. putting on them. ---- Reuter.
driven by four steam turbines driving PITHY COMMENT
twin screws. (SPECIAL TO “CHINA MAIL")
London, To-day.
The "Manchester Guardian," com- menting on the Altmark, states, "If the vessel can act along with a battle- ship while the latter is destroying.com- Then again, Nazi accounts of the merce, can receive its prisoners British saamia) in the Altmark were sunken ships and convoy them to varied. The first offiolal broadcasts | enemy country and still be re
DUVARIED STORIES
NETHERLANDS PROTEST.
The Hague, To-day, i The Netherlands Government has ted to Berlin against the tor- sing of the steamer Arendskerk,
KING, GUSTAV'S ENDORSEMENT
Stockholm, To-day - King Gustav has issued a statement endorsing the Swedish Government's refusal to give military ald to Finland.
Router.