Evening star., 1940-04-08
Text of Allied Statement
Britain and France Cite Nozi Disregard
For NeutruIs in Warfare at Sea

action ss they may deem proper IN
the present circumstances.
Norwegians Suffering
Heavy Share of Losses.
THE allied governments have
observed that the heavy proportion
of losses inflicted upon neutral
countries, both of human life and
in material, has fallen upon the
Norwegian mercantile marine
"Yet while the German govern
ment repeatedly sink Norwegian
shipping and murder Norwegian
seamen they continue to demand
from the Norwegian government
the fullest use of Norwegian terri
torial waters for their own CON-
merce and the Norwegian govern
ment have even felt obliged to pro-
vide an armed escort in these waters
for German ships while unable to
take effective action against Ger
man brutality on the high seas of
which their own vessels have been
the victims.
"Whatever may be the actual
policy which the Norwegian gov
ernment by German threats and
pressure are compelled to follow,
the allied governments can no long
er afford to acquiesce in the pres
ent state of affairs by which Ger
many obtains resources vital to her
prosecution of the war and obtains
from Norway facilities which place
the allies at a dangerous disad-
vantage.
"Tkey have therefore already CIV
en- notice to the Norwegian govern
ment that they reserve the right to
take such measures as they may
think necessary, to hinder or pre-
vent Germany from obtaining in
Norway resources or facilities which
for the purpose of war would be to
her advantage or to the disadvantage
of the allies
If the successful prosecution of
the war now requires them to take
such measures, world opinion will
not be slow to realize both the neces-
sity under which they are con-
strained to act and the purpose of
their action. Their purpose in this
war is to establish principles which
the smaller states of Europe would
themselves wish to see prevail and
upon which the very existence of
those states ultimately depends.
Will Act in Accordance
With Dictates Of Humanity.
The allies. of course. will never
follow the German example of brutal
violence and any action they decide
to take will always be carried out in
accordance with the dictates of hui
manity.
His majesty's government in the
United Kingdom and the French
government have accordingly re-
solved to deny continued use by the
enemy of stretches of territorial
waters which are clearly of partic-
ular value to him and they have
therefore decided to prevent the un-
hindered passage of vessels carrying
contraband of war through Nor
wegian territorial waters.
They accordingly hereby give
notice that the following areas of
Norwegian territorial waters have
been rendered dangerous to navi-
cation on account of mines.
(The statement here described in
detail the mined areas.)
1T will be observed that the lay
ing of mines in these areas will in
no way interfere with free access
OF Norwegian nationals or ships to
their own ports and coastal ham,
lets. In order to avoid the least
possibility of Norwegian or other
vessels inadverently entering these
areas before there has been time
to give warning of mines being laid,
arrangements have been made for
limits of areas to be patrolled by
British naval vessels until period
of 48 hours has elapsed from the
laying of the first mine in each
area. This measure, in conjunction
with the broadcast warning. should
fully provide for the safety Of
shining