Evening star., 1940-04-08
British Subs Sink Nozi ShiDs
Off Norway; $50 Germans Die;
Remove Mines, Oslo Demands
Open Violation Of
international Law
Charged by Koht
(Tert OF allied statement on
Page A-2.)

(Tert of allied statement on
Page A-2.)
OSLO, April 8.-Norway shock
ed by the laying of allied mines
in Norwegian territorial waters
at dawn today, Immediately
charged Great Britain and
France with an "open breach of
international law" and demand
ed that the mines "be removed
at once"
AS soon as it became known that
the allies were laying the mines in
three regions of Norway's coast to
cut of shipments of iron ore to
Germany through Norwegian terri
torial waters, the Norwegian cabi-
net met and then Parliament was
called into special session. .
(From Stockholm, Reuters.
British news agency. reported
the Swedish government met to-
day to study the effect of allied
mlne-laying in Norwegian ter
ritorial watersD
Foreign Minister Halvdan Koht,
in public statement charged that
the allies had violated Norwegian
sovereignty and neutrality" by
laying the mines and patrolling the
affected regions with warships.
THE Norwegian government" he
said. protests gravely and solemnly
against this open breach of interna-
tional law The Norwegian
government must demand that such
mines be removed at once and that
the guard by foreign warships
cease"
Koht charged Britain with violat-
ing an agreement of last March II
which he said provides that all
Norwegian goods. including contra
band, could be sent from Norway to
Germany.
War Fleets Gathering.
KohtS statement came as Nor
wegians heard ominous reports of
a gathering of German and British
warships.
Rumors reaching here from Den
mark said that so German ships
of various sizes, including battle
ships, cruisers and minesweepers,
were moving north toward the
Skagerrak. an arm of the North
Sea accessible from the Baltic.
These rumors-impossible to check
readlly-were that the German force
was moving north through the
Great Belt, a Baltic North Sea ap-
proach flanked by islands that go
to make up Denmark Entrance
to the Kattegat and Skagerrak
would bring any German force to
the southernmost point of Norway.
(The British Admiralty press
spokesman stated this afternoon
that no information had been re-
ceived regarding reported Ger
man naval movements in the
Great Belt and the Kattegat, the
Chicago Daily News foreign serv-
ice reported from London)
At the same time, reports from
Norwegian coastal points said that
British battleships and cruisers had
been sighted
Declaration by KOht.
Koht made his declaration on
Norway's course following a joint
meeting of the cabinet with the par
liamentary Foreign Affairs Commit
tee. The foreign minister said that
not only would Norway demand re-
moval of the mines but that she
reserves for herself the right to
take any and all steps which may be
necessary as a result of such in
fringement of Norwegian neu-
trality."
"The British and French govern
ments early today laid out mine
fields at three places in Norwegian
sea territory to stop free shipping
within Norwegian waters" Koht
said, land British warships have
been sent to guard these areas.
THE Norwegian government pro-
tests gravely and solemnly against
this open breach of international law
and such infringements with the
strength of Norwegian sovereignty
and neutrality.
During the entire war Norway
has followed all rules for neutrality
with strictest concern. It is in full
conformity with generally acknowl-
edged rules that Norway has kept
(See OSLO. page A-5J