Fifteen German warships reached the Kattegat, north-east Denmark, about midday, reliable quarters re-Ported today but the reports could not be confirmed. The destination of the ships was not given—United Press.
"Seric is, Solemn Protest Oslo, Ayr. 8.
"A. serious and solemn protest" Allied decision to mine Norwegian territorial waters was handed to the British and French Ministers by the Norwegian Government today.
"This morning the British and French Governments," a statement says, "allowed mines to be three areas in Norwegi waters with the alm of stopping free shipping. within Norwegian ferriter; and British warships have been patrol these areas. The Norweg Government makes a venous an solemn protest against this oper breach of international law, and such violation by force of Norwegian sovereignty and neutrality.
"Throughout the war, Norway has observed all rules of neutrality with the strictest care. By keeping her waters open to all legitimate trafic of how taken steps to stop this trafic.
"The Norwegian Government is hound to remind them of the fact that this year the British Government signed an agreement with Norway, in which it was stipulated that Norwegian goods—even goods regarded as contraband—may be sold by and exported from Norway to Germany.
"Therefore, the Norwegian Government could not have reason to expect that the Allied Governments would forcibly intervene and try to stop this "The Norwegian Government cannot in any way agree to belligerent countries placing mines in Norwegian territorial waters. The Government must claim that such mines be removed at once, and that patrolling by foreign warships shall cease.
"The Norwegian Government must reserve the right {0 take such appropriate measures as this violation of our neutrality may demund.'—Reuter.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.