THE CHINA MAIL, FEBRUARY 20, 1940
Lord Halifax Rejects Norwegian Contention
BRITISH
CASE
APPEAL TO JOIN ALLIES'
ON THE ALTMARK BATTLE PUT VERY FULLY
London, To-day.
IT IS UNDERSTOOD THAT Lord Halifax, the For- eign Secretary, in exchanges with the Norwegian Minister in London, which are still continuing, has rejected the Norwegian contention that the Altmark's prisoners should be returned to Norway.
Lord Halifax has taken under advisement the re- maining points in the Norwegian Note. At the same time Lord Halifax put the British case very fully before the Norwegian Minister.
Neutral correspondents are putting thad declared its pride in war and the a number of points arising from the aimless murder of defenceless sea- Altmark case to the British authori- men,-Reuter.
ties, the kernel of which lies in whe- ther or not the British Government seeks to establish a precedent which might affect other neutral powers.
FANTASTIC GERMAN CLAIMS
London, To-day.
The German High Command's claim that four British convoy# have been successfully attacked la discredited in British naval circles.
The Admiralty's comment was: "The claim is as fantastic as Ger- man claims usually are."-Router.
(SPECIAL TO "CHINA MAIL")
PARIS, TO-DAY. AN APPEAL ADDRESSED TO ALL UKRAINIANS THE WORLD OVER TO JOIN THE ALLIED BATTLE AGAINST THE NAZIS WAS ISSUED BY THE UKRAINIAN COMMITTEE IN PARIS, SIGNED BY ALEXAN- DER SHULGIN, FORMER FOREIGN MINISTER.
The appeal stated in part: "Germany and her leaders have betrayed them- selves and the people. Formerly many representatives of the Third Reich em- phasized their sympathy for Ukraine and promised to liberate Ukraine from the Soviet yoke. Events have proved that this was mere blackmail."
A similar appeal has been issued by Mustafa Chokay Colt, former presi- dent of the National Government of Turkestan on behalf of the Turco- mans, now incorporated in the U.S.A.R. -Havas.
TRAINING
HOLLAND CHANGED CRAFTSMEN
INTO VAST FORT
In answer to these points the Bri- tish spokesman quoted Reuter reports from the United States, seeming to dispose of any American misgivings.
PRECEDENT OF LAST WAR American legal opinion referred to the Appan case in the last war set- ting a precedent for the United States. When the German liner Appan ar- rived at Newport, Va., with British prisoners on board, the American au- thorities released the prisoners. The action was subsequently confirmed by | NEUTRAL CORRESPONDENTS are amazed at the trans-TORIES OF BRITAIN.
the Supreme Court, which ordered the Appan to be handed to the Br]- tish.
THE BRITISH CASE Other neutral questioners yesterday doubted whether a belligerent war- ship or merchant ship merely wishing to pass neutral territorial waters must be searched by the
neutral power.
(SPECIAL TO "CHINA MAIL")
Amsterdam, To-day.
formation of the whole of the Netherlands into a vast fortress while the Dutch Army, they state, is able to op- pose with efficacious resistance any attacker.
"During our tour we have inspected a number of fortresses and artillery batteries in inundated regions. We found several hundred thousands of soldiers and many thousands of civil- ians working shoulder to shoulder with 'the most modern tools," building ́de-
fence works,"
The correspondents insisted that the Dutch system of defence was worked out at a considerable depth and every fortification itself was defended by other defence works while vast areas may be flooded within a single night. All bridges in fortified zones were
by protected
machine-gun nests, All
- The British case, however, is not dependent on this point; it relies on the contention that the Altmark's status as an auxiliary of the Graf Spee and the bearer of several hun- dred prisoners was known all over the world, and that the Norwegian au- thorities, having decided to inspect her, were guilty of great neglect in not conducting a thorough search which would have revealed the fact that this was a German Fleet auxi-mine-flelds and anti-tank traps.
these bridges can be blown up mere liary and was trying to smuggle Bri- tish prisoners through Norwegian ly by the touch of button. territorial waters. Reuter.
Reuter.
RESOLUTION RECALLED ALLIES MAY
London, To-day.
In connexion with the Altmark, it is SEIZE
pointed out in official circles in Lon- don that Norwegian seamen, through their union, and the officers' associa- tion, presented a resolution to the Norwegian Foreign Office on Feb. 15 protesting against the Nazi sea war- fare which was being waged, it was said, with the prime object of terror- isation of neutral shipping.
The resolution enumerated a num- ber of recent sinkings which must be condemned as demonstrably conflict- ing with international law and human feeling.
MOST MONstrous THING
The steamer Songa, for example, proceeding from an American to neutral European port, was sunk in the Atlantic and the crew driven into open boats in mid-Winter.
Secondly, the sinking of the steam- ar Tempo, was "the most monstrous thing Imaginable." She was sunk by German seroplanos which shot at the craw in boats.
The resolution concluded by urging members not to man ships which are carrying cargo to a belligerent which
IRON ORE
(SPECIAL TO "CHINA MAIL")
ECONOMY OF THE AMERICAS
NEW YORK, TO-DAY, THE FOREIGN POLICY ASSOCIA- TION, IN A REPORT ON THE PRO- GRESS OF PAN-AMERICAN CO-
OPERATION, STATES THAT ONLY THE BARE BEGINNING HAS BEEN MADE TOWARDS THE FULL REA- LIZATION OF WESTERN HEMIS- PHERE ECONOMIC POTENTIALI- TIES.
The future of the progamme in Latin America depends on the ability of the United States to face the issue involved by the import of competi- tive products.
LONDON, TO-DAY. THOUSANDS OF UNEMPLOYED MEN WITH LITTLE SPECIALISED KNOWLEDGE OF ANY TRADE ARE NOW BEING TRANSFORMED INTO SKILLED CRAFTSMEN READY TO TAKE THEIR PLACES IN THE ARMS AND ENGINEERING FAC-
Men whose ages range up to 45 are given six months 'instruction in practical engineering at 14 training centres, Eight thousand men are now being trained and there is room for another 7,000.
·
It is hoped to supply this year 40,000 trained workers.
Meanwhile engineering employers engaged in armaments production are negotiating with the Trade Unions and-the-Government in regard to the dilution of labour.-Reuter.
NEUTRAL SINKINGS
MADRID, TO-DAY. THE OFFICIAL SPANISH NEWS AGENCY ANNOUNCES that the SPANISH STEAMER BANDERAS (2,000 TONS) SANK FOLLOWING AN EXPLOSION BIX MILES OFF CAPE VILLANO.
Twenty-two out of the crew of 29 are dead.
·
The Association points out that there is no common cultural thread running through North, Central and South In Oslo, the owners of the steamer America, and the Latin American Elka have received information businessmen, bankers and workmen through the Norwegian Foreign Office have no North American counter- | that the vessel was torpedoed with- parts:
out warning on January 29 and that Latin America's cultural ties are only two members of the crew were more towards those of Europe, al- | saved by the U-boat. →→→ Router. IT IS RELIABLY LEARNED THAT though her economic ties with North THE ALLIED HIGH NAVAL COM-America are stronger.-Reuter. MANDS ARE AT PRESENT, STUDY- ING MEANS TO ARREST THE ROOSEVELT DIVORCE
PARIS, TO-DAY.
CONTINUOUS INFLOW OF SWE- DISH IRON TO THE REICH WHICH FORMED 40 PER CENT. OF THE | REICH'S TOTAL IRON IMPORTS IN PEACE TIME.
CROSS-PETITION
› Los Angeles, To-day. Mrs. Betsey Roosevelt has filed a cross-petition against her husband; The Swedish iron comes mainly James Roosevelt, son of the President, from mines in Lapland and is export-asking for a divorce on grounds of ed via the Norwegian res
seaport of cruelly and désertion and for court Narvik which is free the year round. approval for the previously arranged
The Allied Fleets are able to exer- property settlement-Reuter. cise complete contraband control in the North Sea and, therefore, will intercept exports of Swedish, fron, via Narvik. These exports represent at least one-half of the German Iron imports
Capt. P. Nath Kerpol, of Rajputana Rifles, was cautioned by Mr. Q. Macfadyen this morning when |moned for failing to licence
vata car, No. 789,
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VICEROY'S. STATEMENT WELCOMED BY INDIAN LIBERALS
New Delhi, To-day. The Council of the Indian National Liberal Federation welcomes the Viceroy's statement that the British Government's aim is Dominion status for India.
It criticises Congress for rejecting the offer completely and for continu- ing what it calls this imprac idea of complete independence.
that India