March 27.
While there is every sympathy with Nor~ way in its present unfortunate position, placed as it is between the upper and nether millstones of the countries at war, it is de vently to be hoped that the protest which it reported Norway has lodged over alleged British infringement of Norwegian territorial waters, will be replied to in the only manner which a realistic view of the case demands, The facts are that Germany is using Norwegian waters, not only for the purpose of evading the British blockade, but also as temporary bases from which to emerge to attack British vessels, and to which to sneak back directly they are themselves in danger of attack. There is not now the slightest doubt that whatever neutrality Norwegian waters may theoretically be held to possess has been infringed by Germany so flagrantly that It should no longer be considered as existing. That may very well be no fault of the Norwegian Government, for its rights fare being flouted by a very formidable neigh hour, against which it can hope to secure no redress, and most certainly not by force of arms. Norway, and the other Scandinavian nations, as well as other small neutrals, may be compelled to yield before the superior strength of Germany. The Allies need not and will not do so. It has been rightly pointed out by French commentators in dealing with the Altmark case that the Norwegian Government has adopted an attitude of passive belligerency, in which it, as a neutral Power, has accepted such conditions of neutrality as the initiative of Germany has imposed, and appears at the same time to expect the other belligerents to accept the fait accompli. That is a position totally at variance with international law and one with which the Allies cannot and will not agree.
the "Manchester Guardian" has very rightly summed the matter up "we cannot sacrifice our own interests or principles that fave of moment to us simply that a neutral may, at our expense, mollify Germany, who is in fact never mollified.". The case could not be put plainer than that, and Norway has perforce consented to the creation of a state of affairs in which the Allies may vightly claim that what is sauce for the goose appropriate for the gander.
German shipping, taking on cargoes of iron ore at Narvik, travel well over a thousand Miles through' the territorial waters of Nor~ way, hugging the coast and in fact shelter ing behind Norwegian skirts. German war vessels are known to have used the same waters for the purpose of getting to the out side world for the purpose of attacking Allied shipping, and skulking back in the same manner when in danger of retaliation. The pieture of what claims to be a proud invincible nation hiding thus behind a. small. cooreed neutral is in itself highly significant. The British Government it is stated wil tolerate this state of affairs no longer. It is a matter for criticism that it has endured it so long, n determines for the future an shipping in the Skager Rak and on courses close to the Scandinavian coast she is well within her rights. It is the height of foolishness to continue to respect international conventions which are being flagrantly broken by the enemy, for to places the more law abiding' nation ata very definite disadvantage. It is apparent from the comment which has come hand that it is not the intention of the British Government. to adopt a policy of ignoring the integrity of Norwegian territorial waters, but rather to examine every case of German infringement upon its merits and to act accordingly. It is with this in view that British naval forces have clamped down a blockade of the Kattegat, as a result of which German shipping has either been held up, or diverted to avoid capture or destruc-ion. For the time being the leakage of iron fore into Germany is through the port of Narvik. Until the middle of May the Swedish port of Lulea at the top of the Gulf of Bothnia fee-bound, but when that port again becomes available a new proposition will arise Which will require the attention of the Allies. The problem there presented is somewhat different from that of dealing with the German shipping stealing down the Norwegian coast, but nevertheless should not be wholly imeapable of solution.
All this. is written with the keenest sympathy for the plight in which the Seandinavian neutrals find themselves. It is realized that they have no particular choice in the matter, and could only expect the brutal treatment meted out to Poland if they dared to take a strong line in defence of their interests. In this connection it may with justice be pointed out that, if they are foreed to submit to the sinking without warning of their mercantile vessels, and the murder of their crews, it con hardly be surprising that they adopt a certain complaisance with regard to other infringements of their unquestionable rights. This the Allies perfectly well realize. They too are fighting for their existence. They cannot afford to stand idly by while the Reich forces by menaces the neutrals to play the German game. The responsibility for whatever may happen in these neutral waters to German shipping rests completely upon the shoulders of the German Government. It is they who have broken international law, and they can no longer expect to be allowed to get away with it, The whole ease can be quite brut~ ally put. If the Scandinavian neutrals are unable to protect their territorial waters from misuse by Germany, they cannot expect that those nations against whom that misuse is being directed should by too scrupulous 'a regard for the legal niceties permit themselves to continue at a disadvantage. No combatant possessing any intelligence would consent to carry on a struggle under such limitations, and the expressed. intention of the British Government to adopt such a view is eagerly awalted. It is to be hoped that no great delay will occur before the British altitude in this matter is officially: made known, and that the war will be pro-seenied energetically against this trae in contraband up and down the Scandina coosts, in order that the blockade shall be rendered more completely effective. It may be readily believed that the German Government will complain, but its conduct of hostilities up to the present has been such that it is completely out of court, and, when the equities of the matter come to be considered, without a single justification for any complaint they may care to put forward.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.