Evening star., 1940-04-28

NdHloOS. Lie IeTWdLS, moving rem.
forcements inside Trondheim Fjord,
threatened to cut of the advance troops
from their main body. They, therefore,
withdrew, but were not followed by the
enemy, who are now reported digging
in at the head Of the ford. Our troops
suffered some losses"
For Paris. the worst news of the week
was continued question mark: What
move will Sweden make?
France seems disposed to the view that
Germany will seduce the Swedes. Swed-
ish anti-aircraft opera
Swedish tives on Monday fired at
Situation two German planes Sum-
day night flying over
Goteborg, Swedish territory BY Thurs
day Berlin apologized for invasion Of
Swedish neutrality said it was unin-
territorial. During week German officials
arrived in Stockholm to discuss Baltic
trade with Sweden. A Berlin authority
stated for public consumption that Her.
mann Goering, the German Air Minister,
considers Sweden "his second home.'
The Swedes denied permission to Fin
nish volunteers to cross Sweden in order
to join the Norwegian forces against the
Germans
Friendly Sweden would be immeasura-
BILE boon to Germany. After May, Ger
many could get her indispensable iron,
blocked by siege of Narvik. In lumber
and agricultural products Sweden
abounds. And friendly Sweden would
not interfere with German military &C
tivities in the Baltic. German troops are
massing at Koenigsberg in East Prussia
and in Memel. The allier wonder where
these troops are headed.
The other question marks of the week
are Italy and Russia. Italy chafes under
the British blockade, and the country
gave signs of new wave of enthusiasm
for Germany. On Wednes-
ltoIy and day the German Ambassa-
Russia dor, Won Mackensen, re-
turned to Rome from visit
to Berlin. Same day the Bologna paper.
Resto del Carlino, forecast German vic
tory and predicted Italy would fight be-
side Germany. The next day Francesca
Giunta, leading Fascist party member,
said in Italian Chamber of Fasces and
Guilds that France always has been
against us" and Britain's traditional
friendship for us is nothing but COM
monplace refuted by history and by fact"
Dim light on Russia's present attitude
came from Zagreb, Yugoslavia, where
newspaper Novosti predicted opening Of
diplomatic relations between Yugoslavia
and the U. S. S. R. The two countries,
the paper said, are being brought to-
gether by the British.
However, Rome heard reports from
Belgrade, Yugoslav capital, which fur
ther complicated Russian question. Re-
portedly, an Italian-Yugoslav trade
commission will meet in Rome in May
to discuss change in barter system now
regulating trade between the two coun-
tries. Rome viewed this step as attempt
to counteract the British blockade,
the contraband control.
Italy wants to dominate the Balkans
and would chafe at a Yugoslav overture
to Russia. Despite italian distaste for
blockade, French and British are con-
sidering its extension to the air. The
allies feel too much contraband reaches
their enemy by flying traffic entering
Lisbon, the European terminus of the
Atlantic service from the United States.
Georges Monnet, French blockade min
lister. and r. H. Cross, British Minister
for Economic Warfare, are studying the
problem.
In Berlin, with pomp and ceremony,
Joachim Won Ribbentrop, German For
eign Minister, told cor
Ribbentrop's respondents documents
Charges seized in Oslo by Ger
man invaders proved de-
sign by allies to invade Norway them
selves in order to move theater Of
war away from the stalemate Maginot
Line-Westwall position. The "Stratford
undertaking." the British called the
allied invasion plan, Won Ribbentrop
stated in the fourth German white
Book"
At same time Fuehrer Hitler yesterday
issued proclamation dated April "a that
state of war existed between the Third
Reich and the Norway government of
King Haakon VII. From April 9, date
of invasion, until Wednesday Germans
insisted their movement north consti-
tuted "protectorate" of Denmark and
Norway. In his secret hideaway King
Haakon announced to the world he will
not treat with the invading Germans.