1940-03-15 — Page 6

NORWAY'S

THE CHINA MAIL, MARCH 15, 1940

DEFENCE

Was Not Asked Until Peace Talks Had Begun GERMANY WOULD THEN HAVE BIG EFFORT

INTERVENED IN NORTH

(SPÉCIAL TO "CHINA MAIL")

Paris, To-day. PROFESSOR KOHT, THE Norwegian Foreign Minis- ter, declared in the course of a statement on Nor- wegian policy in the Finnish dispute that no re- quest by the Allies for passage for troops was received by the Norwegian Government until peace negotiations had actually begun. Had Norway assented at that stage, he declared, Germany would have undoubtedly intervened against Norway and Scandinavia would have be come the European battlefield.

The remainder of his statement followed closely the lines of. Dr. Gunther's address to the Parliament.

Swedish

Semi-officially, Professor Koht's statement is not contested, but it is understood that the Allied enquiry in Sweden was made long before peace negotiations were begun." The Allies turned to Norway after the logical and easiest means of getting troops to Finland had been definitely re- fused. Havas.

Finland's Requests

London, To-day.

Reuter's lobby correspondent learns

GERMAN FILM

OF 20 NAVY MEN

A Newsreel of about twenty men, described by the announcer as "the survivors of the British

submarines Starfish and Undine," is being shown in Berlin.

SWEDEN WORRIED BY CLAUSES IN THE PEACE TREATY

(SPECIAL TO "CHINA MAIL”)

Helsinki, To-day.

that Finland's first requests to the M. HAKKILA, CHAIRMAN of the Finnish Diet, de-

Allies for assistance were for ma-

terials, not men, and the Allies sent

as much material as they felt they

could safely spare.

Later there was an informal re-

clared in a speech yesterday: "Any move which

IN FINLAND BEGINNING

Helsinki, To-day.

All available cars and lorries have been requisitioned

the to help in work of re-settling the people and the Finnish Ald Committee has called for hundreds of volunteer relief workers.

Sweden is to give £18,000,000 in loans and credits for reconstruction work and the use of the money will be discussed within a week between the Swedish authorities and M. Cajander, a former Finnish Fremier.

In a proclamation, the Finnish Government has announced its inten- tion of launching relief schemes, to rebuild shattered homes...

This work, says the proclamation, will demand the utmost effort · and sacrifice, but through the sacrifice of Finland's youth Finland has been able to keep what she values, most her freedom. Reuter.

-

SAYS GUNNERS HAVE PACT

German-French artillery duels on

agreement"according to a German

might seem to be directed against Russia is in- the Western Front are "by unspoken compatible with the Finnish-Soviet treaty.”

quest for 30,000 men, to be available. The declaration is interpreted as meaning that Fin-

in May.

A difficulty in the way of fulfilling the request was the refusal of Sweden and Norway to allow military forma- tions to traverse their territory.

Preparations Made

Despite this, preparations were made to enable troops to move direct ly a Finnish appeal was received, and Reuter understands that if an expeditionary force had been sent it would have been fully equipped, in- cluding air strength.-Reuter.

land will be unable to participate in any military alliance of the Scandinavian states if this al- liance is directed against Russia.

Little information is available as re- Finnish-Soviet pact prevents Finland gards the Finnish proposals to the taking any step directed against Rus- Scandinavians for the conclusion of asia. mutual assistance pact.

Main. point is that such a pact would guarantee Sweden against German and not Russian aggression, since the

Lovely Brenda Joyce (below, centre) is making a sensational screen debut in the bost film company--with: Myrna Loy, Tyrona Power and George Brent, stara of Darryl F. Zanuck'a praduation of "The Raina Came," by Louis Bromfield. The 20th Century Fox picture dirested by Clarence Brown opens to-day at the King's Theatre.

Meanwhile, Swedish opinion lo much worried over some of the clauses of the Soviet-Finnish treaty which will directly affect Swedish Interests:

Firstly, the cession of Hangoe is an evident danger for Sweden, and secondly, the Russian advanced posi-

tions at Salla and Kusamo.--Havas.

RUSSIANS BEGIN TO

RETIRE

Stockholm, To-day. According to a despatch from. north Finland the Russian troops have be- gun to retire.

officer.

"At certain fixed hours the firing starts. Then we count the number of shots from the French guns, and reply with the same number-but not one more,” said the officer. "In one sector we were gathering fruit and potatoes in trucks on French territory. We were fired on when we were wearing helmets, but never when we only had caps on."

The officer was quoted by a corres- pondent of the Brussels newspaper Libre Belgique, who talked with Ger-... man officers and soldiers in a train coming from the Siegfried Line.

KING'S MEN

CRAIGAVON

"We are King's men. We will be with, you to the end."

*

tain from Belfast by Lord Craigavon, This message was broadcast to Bri-

Prime Minister of Northern Ireland. Finnish troops and volunteers who are stationed at this part of the front steady response to the call for volun- He added that there had been a are remaining in their positions awalt-teers in the regiments famed in North- ing orders.-Reuter.

NEW NAVAL MEDAL

The King has, approved the issue of a Naval General Service Meda), with clasp "Palestine" to Fleet per- sonnel for service in Palestine between April 19, 1936, and September 3, 1939. A further Admiralty Fleet Order will be issued defining the personnel entitled to this medal.

Y.M.C.A. CANTEENS

London,. To-day. The YM.CA. now has 100 mobile canteens operating in Britain;

The 100th was presented yesterday by the Guild of, Vintnera.—Reuter.

ern Ireland's traditions,

"Around 'our rook-bound and tur- bulent coast some of the finest ss2- men in the kingdom hava bean brød `and born," he:sald, ́-

Lord Craigavon also said:

"We plan to plough a quarter of a million additional acres of land this year.

"Sales of Savings Certificates and Defence Bonds have been maintained at the rate of £100,000 per week."

RESCUED FROM NIAGARA BRINK-

A boy of fourteen, Richard Abbey, was rescued from an ice-floe as it drifted towards the brink of the roar.......

NO REASON TO BEG❘ing Niagara Falls.

Yeung Ying, a woman of 32, who had $18.15 in her pocket, was caught beg; sing in Nathan Road yesterday with her 11-year-old daughter. This mornTM ing, she was fined $3 or seven days by Mr. Q

Macfadyen.

Police Constable Amon D. Voetsch reached the boy in a canoe attached to a rope held by a human chain lead- ing to the safe, ice nearer the shore,

Young Abbey was taken to hospital weak from fright and cold, his clothes soaked with the icy water,