Evening star., 1940-04-03

Danes See New War Of
Nerves; korwegions
More Optimistic
~ the Associated Press
COPENHAGEN, April 3.-Scan-
dinavian states, concerned with
maintaining their precarious neu-
traiity, viewed today with mingled
anxiety and optimism the British
French allies announced determi-
nation to tighten the blockade
against Germany.
While sections of the Danish press
foresaw the beginning of new war
Of nerves" menacing the neutral
status of the northern states, Nor
wegian newspapers inclined to q
more hopeful outlook, apparently
\ based on belief that the western
powers have too little to gain to
justify outright invasion of Norwe-
gian waters to halt ore shipments
to the Reich.
Although Prime Minister Cham
berlain told the British House of
Commons yesterday that the allies
were taking certain practical
steps" to halt the passage of cargo
ships from Scandinavia to Germany,
the Oslo newspaper Tidens Tegn
said there was mo reason for nerv-
business" In Norway.
I'VE have every reason to believe, !"
the newspaper said, that the west
ern powers il the future will re-
spect our neutrality no matter what
steps are taken against Germany"
Effort to Block Canal Seen.
Some quarters believe that the in
tensified allied blockade would
center in the North Sea and the
Skagerrak, with a possible effort by
the British Navy and Air Force to
block the Kiel Canal.
In this connection the Oslo news
paper Aftenposten pointed out that
Germany's Baltic ports were heavily
crowded with shipping and that
further ore cargoes from Sweden
probably would be taken through
the Kiel Canal to Hamburg.
1T is more than likely that Brit
ish submarines as well as the air
force now are closely watching the
Elbe River" the Aftenposten said.
The opposite view of the probable
significance of the sharpened allied
blockade was taken by the authori-
tative Copenhagen newspaper Po-
litiken, which commented on Prime
Minister Chamberlain's speech:
1T is through the increase of
pressure on neutral states that Lon
don will try to strengthen the block
ade of Germany. 1t is new war of
nerves which is being started"
Danes Make Representations.
Scandinavian circles noted that
the hint of the allies plans came
as the Danish government an
nounced that its Minister in London
had been instructed to make repre-
sentations concerning the sinking of
the German steamer Edmund Hugo
SHINES, by British submarine off
the coast of Denmark, March "a.
Growing anxiety in Sweden was
ref1e-ted in speech which Defense
Minister Per Edwin SKIOLD made last
night at Upsala.
"As long as the pig powers are
involved in war of life and death
our fate will be uncertain SKIOLD
declared. There may suddenly
Low aud
be prepared"
SKIOLD pointed out. however, that
even if the northern countries
united in defensive alliance, their
joint forces would not be strong
enough to put through our will
with force"
Lacking the necessary strength, he
said, Sweden must seek safety in a
strong neutrality policy which
treats belligerent powers in an i'm
partial way
Norway, which was lukewarm
when the idea of Scandinavian
alliance was first proposed after the
conclusion of the Russian-Finnish
war, showed quickening interest late
last week when the allied war
council was reported to have decided
upon sharpening the blockade
against Germany.
Engagement Reported.
Norwegian fears of the outbreak
of naval hostilities within its terri
torial waters were heightened when
a Norwegian ship captain arrived in
Bergen and reported witnessing an
engagement between two cruisers in
the North Sea Monday.
The captain, whose name was
withheld. said that at least IL shots
were exchanged and that shells were
seen to fall near one of the cruisers.
The Norwegians, eager to get their
ship out of the danger zone, did not
see the end of the battle and were
unable to identify the cruisers.
Shipping circles in Bergen sug-
gested that German cruiser might
have ventured into the North Sea to
engage blockading British war
ship. They also speculated that the
prifiSb roiSor r,iOht houo s,,rnrico1