Evening star., 1940-04-30
Germany Alters Plan
To Take Sweden;
Plays on Neutrality
Events in Norway
Believed to Make
New Boses Unneeded
BY PERTINAX.

PARIS, April 80 (N.AN.A., BY
Radio A change has been de-
tected during the last few days in
Germany's plans concerning Scan
dinavia.
Let us recall that less than fort
night ago the German Minister in
Stockholm requested the Swedish
government to allow the German
high command to use Swedish ter
ritory to send supplies to the Ger
man troops fighting in Norway and,
in addition, to avail itself of SWed-
ems telephone and telegraphic
lines. That demand was firmly re-
jected by the Swedish authorities,
but indications were at hand that
it would be put forward again in
the near future.
AS matter of fact, the demand
has not been renewed And the in
teresting feature to be recorded Is
that. far from resenting the Stock
holm cabinets refusal. the German
government takes great care to treat
it gently. For instance, the German
White Book" that Foreign Minister
Won Ribbentrop himself distributed
to the diplomatic corps and to the
foreign press bestows great praise
upon the manner in which Sweden
understands and carries out her OBJ
liga tions as a neutral
The Swedish Minister in Berlin
had lodged complaints to the Will
helmstrasse last week about the
flights of German airplanes over
Swedish territory. From the Will
helmstrasse surprisingly courteous
note reached the Swedish Ministry
OF Foreign Affairs last Saturday. 1t
was explained in that document that
encroachment OF Swedens sovereign
rights must not be regarded as
deliberate and willful deed on the
part of German pilots. but that
nevertheless every case will be
closely investigated and, if neces-
sary, punishment inflicted upon all
delinquents.
Transportation Adequate.
The meaning of these facts is
fairly clear. The German command
has reached the definite conclu-
sion that it can continue military
operation in Norway without max
ing any inroads upon Swedens
independence and without seizing
half of Sweden's harbors or other
ways of access to Norway
In other terms. the German high
command is now satisfied that
aerial transports and direct mari
time transports from Denmark to
Norway are in its judgement. not
withstanding the incursion of Anglo
French air and naval forces in the
Skagerrak. fairly adequate to its
purpose-that is, to send to Norway
all the supplies and reinforcements
which may be needed there
Several German divisions have
been concentrated for several days
on Bornholm Island, near the Swed-
ish coast. They may be expected to
go eventually straight to Norway
and kepe clear from the Swedish
shores.
Germany. therefore, until fur
ther notice, intends to play the
case of Swedish neutrality. She
calculates that such policy has
the advantage of making possible
the resumption of the iron ore
trade with the Swedish in three
weeks, when the Gulf of Bothnia is
again open to navigation in its
northern zone. Besides, 1t will not
involve for Germany any real sac
rifice. What would in practice
remain of Swedish independence
once the German Army has sue
ceeded in placing the southern part
of Norway under its lasting occu-
patton?
Hitler Boasts Of Power.
Another consideration deserves
also to be mentioned. For the sake
of her good relations with Russia
Germany had better avoid intrud-
ing too directly upon the lands bor-
dering the upper Baltic.
The plans of the German military