1940-02-22 — Page 6

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THE CHINA MAIL, FEBRUARY 22, 1940

The Reich Has Been Warned: It Is Hoped She Will Feel Less At Home In Neutral Waters

INTERNATIONAL COMMENT ON ALTMARK INCIDENT: BRITISH ACTION APPROVED

London, To-day.

THE INTERNATIONAL PRESS continues to discuss the

rescue of the British prisoners from the Altmark. The London correspondent of "Giornale d'Italia" states that despite the present dispute, Anglo-Norwegian good relations will not be disturbed.

The Montevideo newspaper "El Plata" headlines "Boarding of the Alt- mark. A crime has been Avoided. Humanity should celebrate the fact."

The Swiss newspaper "Le Journal" says! "The Norwegian Parliament's intention to make Norwegian neutral- ity respected arouses the greatest in- terest in Switzerland, which is con- fronted by a task equally delicate.

"But despite the moving speeches, the Altmark affair originated in the Norweglan error In the Interpreta- tion of the duty of neutrals. "The Reich has been warned by the

consider

THE

IN

NAVAL APPOINTMENT

London, To-day. Vice-Admiral Sir Charles Kennedy- Purvis has been appointed Comman-

der-in-Chief, America and West In- dies, in

succession to Admiral Sir Sidney Meyrick, from March, 1940.— Reuter.

NEW APPROACH

COLONIAL POLICY

London, To-day.

daring exploit of the British destroyer. MOST OF THE BRITISH PRESS commented yester- day on the Government's White Paper on Colon- ial Policy, and few of them have anything but praise for what is regarded as the entering into a new period.

It is to be hoped she will herself somewhat less at home in neu- tral territorial waters, and that Nor- way will take more efficient precau- tions to prevent a repetition of incident."-Reuter,

Norwegians Feel Lack

Of Understanding

London, To-day.

the

Mr. Chamberlain's statement in the Commons on the Altmark case was the subject of comment in neutral countries yesterday, as was to be ex- pected.

"

H.M.S. DARING LOSSES

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London, To-day.

A list of casualties issued by the Admiralty in connexion with the loss of H.M.8. Daring gives the names of nine officers, In- cluding Lt-Comm. 8. A. Cooper and 147 others as missing, be- lieved drowned.-Reuter.

GERMANY INTRODUCES NEW POINT

LONDON, TO-DAY. WITH REFERENCE TO THE GER- MAN SUGGESTION THAT BRI- TAIN HAD CREATED A PRE- CEDENT FOR CONVEYING PRISONERS THROUGH NEUTRAL WATERS BY TAKING THE CAP- TURED GERMAN SHIP DUSSEL- DORF THROUGH THE PANAMA CANAL, IT IS POINTED OUT IN LONDON THAT THE HAY- PAUNCEFORTE TREATY OF 1901

BETWEEN BRITAIN AND SUCH A CONTINGENCY. UNITED STATES PROVIDES

THE FOR

that the Panama Canal shall be free

Article Three of the treaty states

and open to the vessels of commerce and war of all nations on terms of

respects be subject to the rules as vessels of war.

Congratulations are general and the general im-equality, and that prizes shall in all

pression is perhaps summed up by "The Times,' which says that the fact that a war is going on has not been made an excuse for preventing ne-was, therefore, provided for in the cessary measures from being put into effect.

The "Daily Mail" says that this is While the Norwegian press regrets what it feels is a lack of understand-not a reward for the great war efforts

by ing of Norway's position

of the Colonies. It would have come Bri- tain, the Swedish paper "Dagens about, war or no war. Nyheter" declares that the case has all along been a question of the in- terests of the great powers concerned and not a question of right and

wrong..

Some papers take heart in the fact that the Government's plans are for 10 years ahead (20 years ahead in the case of the West Indies). This calm, long-sighted policy is considered most encouraging at a time when the Em- pire is facing one of the most critical periods of its history.

The "Daily Telegraph" says that it Is a fulfilment of Joseph Chamber- lain's policy. The scheme is founded on his own conception of the Empire, in which the sense of possession gives place to the sense of obligation.

DISCORDANT NOTE

PROF. KOHT STICKS TO HIS POINT

As the Dusseldorf was a prize, her passage through the Panama Canal

treaty governing the use of the Carial. -Reuter.

BALDUR AS DECOY

LONDON, TO-DAY. ACCORDING TO RELIABLE IN-.. FORMATION REACHING LONDON THE GERMAN TANKER BALDUR, WHICH, IT WILL BE RECALLED, SCUTTLED HERSELF AT THE TIME OF THE ALTMARK EXPLOIT, WAS ACTING AS A DECOY STEAMER. FOREIGN

(SPECIAL TO "CHINA MAIL")

OSLO, TO-DAY. TRYING ΤΟ EXPLAIN NOR- WAY'S STAND IN THE ALT- MARK CASE, THE MINISTER, PROF. KOHT, THE PRESS THAT HIS GOVERN lar features. Each was painted grey MENT BELIEVED NORWAY ACTED IN CONFORMITY WITH BRITAIN'S OWN VIEW.

TOLD

HAD

The paper complains that Ger. many has objected to the publica- tion in neutral newspapers of Interviews with the prisoners of the Altmark In connection with the treatment they were given. Interesting comment comes from the other side of the world, from the Argentine magazine "Caras y Caretas," which says that no one has been de- ceived as to the real object behind

The only really discordant note is the howls and shrieks which have struck by the "Daily Express" which come from Germany over the Alt-complains that while the Government mark case.

passes the recommendations of the Hitler is bullding up for some ex-Royal Commission on the West Indies traordinary act of aggression and it does not reveal that committee's seeks to prepare the ground to "Jus-report. tify" it, Since when, the magazine The "Manchester Guardian," how-right of warships to navigate Nor- asks, has Hitler found international | ever, points out that in normal times law worthy of respect?

WHAT WOULD NAZIS HAVE DONE!

We can well imagine, the magazine continues, what would have happened in the Altmark case if the tables had been turned-if. It had been an English ship with German prisoners on board:-

The German squadron would have attacked it, rescued the prisoners, taken possession of the ship and its crew, and if the Norwegians had protested too much would have pro- ceeded to sink the Norwegian torpedo boats and shelled the coast Reuter,

ROCKEFELLER GIFT ·

New York, To-day. Ex-President Herbert Hoover has announced the receipt of a donation of $100,000 from Mr. John Rocke feller, Jr., for the Finnish Relief Fund. — Reuter,“

they would have been given the full report. It would, perhaps, have been the most striking document on colonial administration for centuries, but there are good reasons why it should not be published fust now.

Reuter.

H.K. FLOUR EXPORT SUBSIDY INCREASED

New York, To-day. The Department of Agriculture an- export subsidy nounces that flour shipments to China and Hong Kong are being advanced 15 cents to $1,40 per barrel, effective from yesterday.

-Reuter,

SWEDISH POLICY

Prof. Koht said that as a sequel to conversations. between Oslo and London in 1939 and 1940, Norway understood that Britain accepted the

wegian territorial waters without consideration of the usually admitted 24 hours limit.

Having acted as auxiliary to Graf Spee, the Altmark,

the he said,

-Both vessels had a number of simi-

and had funnels astern.

When the Baldur scuttled herself it was presumably hoped that British vessels and aeroplanes in the neigh- bourhood would assume she was the Altmark and would glye up the pursuit.

That such tactics were thought necessary is an interesting commen- tary on the German claim that the Altmark was an innocent merchant ship-British Wireless,

must be considered as a warship and FACILITIES

therefore had the right to refuse to be searched.--Havas.

BRITAIN AWAITING OFFICIAL NOTE

(SPECIAL TO “CHINA MAIL")

TO NAZIS

(SPECIAL TO “CHINA MAIL")

NEW YORK, TO-DAY. THE "WORLD-TELEGRAM”. SEES London; To-days IN THE ARRIVAL HERE OF THE will not reply officially to the views EXAMPLE OF THE

It is learned reliably that Britain | OIL-TANKER SCANDINAVIA AN FACILITIES expressed by the Norwegian Foreign | GIVEN BY NORWAY TO GERMANY Minister Prof. Koht, on the Altmark, TO`' - EVADE · · THE;'; · BRITISH and will wait for an official communi- | BLOCKADE. · cation from Oslo.

· APPROVED

The Scand'navia: -/was built at: "The juridical aspect of the question Hamburg, whence the proceeded· · to Stockholm, Ta dày. is considered entirely clear and the Oslo, sailing along the Danish coast, The Swedish Parliament yesterday main proccupation now is what mea- The ship was then entrusted to a gave the Prime Minister an expres-sures should be taken for stopping Norwegian crew and salled for - New sion of confidence in his foreign po- the unlawful use of Norwegian terri-York by a route north of Scotland, lley, Reuter,

torial waters by Germany.-Havas, It is belleved~~Haves.