Paris, Feb. 21.
Well-informed circles here welcome the references to German abuses of Norwegian territorial waters, made by the British Prime Miníster, Mr. Neville Chamberlain, in his statement in the House of Commons yesterday. It is felt that the Altmark incident has thrown a searchlight upon the German use of these waters.
It is declared that so long as these waters are used as artificial protection for the evasion of Allied control, or for acts of piracy, then the British and French navies will take whatever measures are necessary to defend their interests, which are being injured by the passivity of the Norwegian authorities.—Reuter, The Labour Opposition, he said, would like to be associated with. the expression of satisfaction with the action of the Royal Navy in freeing about 300 British seamen who, before they were taken prisoners, had been carrying out most gallant work on behalf of their country and had now been saved from durance vile (cheers).
Similar sentiments were expressed in the House of Lords by Lord Strabolgi, after Lord Stanhope, Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House, had made a statement similar to that of Mr. Chamberlain.
Lord Strabolgi expressed satisfaction on behalf of the Labour Party at the action of the Navy, and expressed great sympathy with the Norwegian people, especially" Norwegian merchant seamen, who were "being murdered without excuse by Nazi pirates." Everyone of the British seamen aboard the Altmark, he added, was illegally a prisoner, as all their ships had been sunk illegally.
When the First Lord of the Admiralty, Mr. Winston Churchill, took his seat in the House of Commons yesterday, he was greeted with loud cheers.
"Admirably Conducted"
Norway Violates Own Neutrality Paris, Feb. 20.
Norway violates not only her own neutrality, but international law itself in permitting German warships te make steady and long use of Norwegian territorial waters to escape reprisals by the Allied fleets, French observers stated tonight in a commentary on Mr. Neville Chamberlain's speech.
German war vessels, they pointed out in approval of Mr. Chamberlain's frm statement, have in the past attacked neutral and belligerent shipping in the North Sea, then made for Norwegian waters. Norway did nct permit such abuse over the American ship City of Flint, and Norway should not alter her policy now.—Havas,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.