New York, Feb. 19.
The "New York Times" says today that severe criticism of Norway for having failed to determine the true status of the Altmark is voiced by three American authorities on international law, Mr, Frederic Rene Condort, former legal adviser to the British Embassy, according to the newspaper, is of the opinion that Great Britain is entirely Justified because Norway is clearly guilty of an altogether unneutral act, permitting the Altmark to harbour In exchanges with the Norwegian Minister, Dr. Erik Colban, Lord Halifax rejected the Norwegian contention that the Altmark's prisoners should be returned to Norway, it is understood. The exchanges are still continuing.
Lord Halifax has put the British case very fully before the Norwegian Neutral correspondents are putting a number of points arising from the Altmark case to British authorities, the kernel of which lies in whether or not the British Government seeks to establish a precedent which might affect other neutral powers.
In answer to these points, the Bri" fish spokesman quoted Reuter reports from the United States, seeming to dispose of any American misgivings. American legal opinion referred to the Appan case in the last war as setting a precedent for the United States.
"When the German liner Appan arrived at Newport News, Virginia, with British prisoners aboard, the American authorities released the prisoners. This action was subsequently confirmed by the Supreme Court which ordered the Appan to be handed to the British.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.