Evening star., 1940-04-10
Berlin
Continued From First Page }

progress and that no details could
be divulged until it was finished.
AS to the time when the German
armed forces moved northward, it
was indirectly admitted that this
occurred before yesterday, when the
actual operations began.
Authorized sources said that they
naturally had advance knowledge of
the British mine-laying in Norwe-
glan waters on Monday, and that
they had taken measures to fore
stall them"
informed quarters earlier had ex-
pected a complete and mutually
satisfactory" agreement over condi-
tions of German military occupation
within few hours.
1t was insisted that German &C
ton to protect the neutrality of
the northern states" was finished
and it was stated fatty that no
steps in relation to Sweden were
contemplated.
The Scandinavian states were pro-
nounced by one commentator to be
100 per cent secure against the
western powers desire to involve
them in war"
Germans described the military
occupation of strategic points in
Norway so general ana so thorough
that the allies under no conceivable
circumstances could obtain a foot
hold In Scandinavia.
mo Interest in Iceland"
At the same time they denied that
Germany had occupied the Danish
possession of Iceland or Greenland
which might have brought the war
closer to the American continent.
Germany hasn't the remotest in
terest in either Iceland or Green
land and they are militarily of no
significance in Germany's fight for
existence it was said. These
lands remain completely under the
jurisdiction of Denmark"
1t was explained that Germany
does not intend to interfere with
Norway's internal affairs, but it
must know with whom it can deal
as the responsible head of the
government.
May Ignore New Regime.
1t was clear that Germans here
did not regard the government pro-
claimed yesterday by Maj Quisling
as necessarily the new government.
They suggested that he proclaimed
it without authorization, and that
Germany might come to terms with
the government of Premier Johan
Nygaardsvold.
Berlin authorities said the situa-
ton was confused by the fact that
Maj. Quisling had broadcast an an
nouncement that he was the new
Premier. Inquiries at the Royal
Palace, however, seem to have
elected the information that he had
not been commissioned by the King.
In the second place, it was pointed
out, committee consisting of three
members of the old government had
been appointed by the Norwegian
Storting (Parliament) and the ten
dency seemed to be for this COM
mittee to establish correct relations
with the German government and
abandon the policy of resistance.
There was some question as to how
Maj. Quisling had managed to ap-
pear before the microphone to
broadcast his announcement. Au-
thorized sources assumed that the
broadcasting station was merely
guarded by some German soldier
who, advised by Maj. Quisling that
he was the new Premier, permitted
him to pass. They pointed out,
however, that in times of stress un-
usual things occur.
There was obvious satisfaction in
the Foreign Office over the attitude
adopted by Sweden, which was said
to have promised to remain strictly
neutral.
Authorized sources continued to
| insist that neither Denmark nor
Norway could be considered in the
slightest sense conquered regions. u
Length of Protection"
The present military protection"
which Germany is extending to the
Scandinavian countries will be given
up as soon as the possibility Of
their involvment in war is removed,
it was said, "or until Britain is
crushed"
The economic consequences of the
German coup remained a moot ques-
ton, but it seemed certain that both
countries would be drawn auto
matically into the Nazi orbit.
"A