Royal Navy's Rescue Action Wins Approval Throughout World; German Anger Misplaced Paris, Feb. 20.
FPHE spirit and form of Britain's protest to Norway over the Altmark affair are entirely approved here.
In the opinion of well-informed observers, Nor way, like Sweden, appears to be adopting an attitude of "passive neutrality," but itis stressed that neutrality involves duties and passivity is not neutrality.
Norway"
attitude over the Altmark incident, and Sweden's refusal of Fi Jand's request for milit aid, are considered to ha imilar aspects, It is held that their passivity means, in effect, that they are bruitting, without reaction, to the pressure the Germans are putting on them.
In the Altmark affair, it is pointed out in official circles in London that Norwegian seamen, through their union and the officers' association, presented a resolution to the Norwegian Foreign Office on February 15 protesting against Nazi sea warfare, which is being waged, it is said, "with the prime object of tervorizing neutral shipping."
The resolution enumerated recent sinkings, "which must be condemned as demonstrably conflicting with international law and human feeling."
The steamer Songa, for example, proceeding from an American to a neutra} European port, the resolution said, was sunk inthe Atlantic, and her crew was driven into open boats, in Secondly, it con: tinued, the sinking of the steamer Tempo was "the most monstrous thing imaginable, She wag sunk by Ger man aeroplanes, which shot at the crew in boats." The resolution con eluded by urging members not man ships carrying cargo to the bel-gerent which had declared its pride In war against, and aimless, murder of, defenceless seamen.—Reuter, Amsterdam "Pelegraat™ View Amsterdam, Feb, 19, article on the Altmatk cident the Dutch newspaper "Tele-grant" blames the carelessness the Norwegian authorities.
"The Norwesian Government is mainly to blame for the difficulties in which It now finds itself. We are unable to understand the comment of the Norwegian authorities that they did not find on board the Altmas several hundred British prisoners.' No one of the three parties concerned are fol ally without responsibility, the "Telegraaf" concluded, but the largest share of the guilt corlainly falls on
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.