Evening star., 1945-06-01
Patriot Government
Returns 10 Norway 10
Face Verdict al Polls
By THOMAS R. HENRY,
Star War CORRESPONDENT


OSLO, May 31.-After five
years of exile in London, Nor
ways government of Substan-
tlal conservative patriots came
home today to accept it's peoples
verdict on the faraWay steward
ship.
The welcome to Premier Nv
gaardsvold and his associates was
Golorful, but emotionally restrained
as the new British liner Anders. with
SIX deStroyers as escort. emerged
out OF the dawn miSts at the foot of
Oslo ford, and proceeded SO miles
to the flag g-decorated capital along
a path swept through mine fields.
The party was accompanied by a
constant procession of small boats
bearing a cheering populace.
Then, landing at the capital the
group passed by massed 10000
persons and proceeded down lilac
frnged Karl Johans Gate, the city's
chief street, toward the terraced
palace where Crown Prince Olav
waited. The prince had fled with
the King in 1910 after further re-
slStance was hopeless. Since that
Tune. the government had been con-
unued IN secrecy with uncertainty
hanging over all patriot officials in
SIDE the country and death expected
for agents in Norway discovered by
the foe.
Many Consultations.
1t became necessary to leave most
OF the home details to the mystic
rlous underground, led by some of
NorWay's most substantial people
operating under the noses of Quis-
ing. But ministers said today few
decisions were made either in Lon
don or Norway without consulta-
tiOnS.
Leaders here have tried to main
tam representative government not
of fiction, bst in fact, through their
darkest hours. 1t is now up to the
people.
This is one OF the great DAYS in
NOrway's history, but people don't
f1aunt their emotions on sleeves,
and crowds are quiet and orderly
compared with most liberated cities.
But from every fishing village
along the spruce-lined ford, folks
came out in decorated boats, cheer
ing. and they stood up precariously
IN their boats in the rough water
stirred up by the liner.
IniIro1ic+e loF+
ship at 3 a m, and it was noon when
they returned to the city docks.
To Ask Reparations.
Apparently the majority of the
Norwegian people were satisfied with
the exile government. but ministers
said all future policies depend on
the peoples decision, especially the
question of Norway sharing the oc-
cupatlon of Germany with at least
one army division.
The NorWegians depend upon Al
lied forces here to disarm and evac-
uate the German forces. But they
insist they will demand full repara-
tons and restoration of their mer-
chant fleet. They face a situation
less complex than expected, how
ever, since some of the worst prob
lens of other liberated countries
already have been settled. The black
market, rampant before liberation,
was nearly all eliminated in three
weeks, with prices under rigid con-
troll.
There also is the problem of Fin
mark, which the Russians occupy,
but ministers assert there would be
a friendly settlement especially with
the addition of Communist to the
government in coming elections. The
Morse Reds are like the middle-of-
the-road labor elsewhere. They were
prominent in the reception for the
returning government.
The situation seemed highly op-
tlmlStlc. American Ambassador Lith-
cow Osborne was aboard the Anders
with the new Embassy staff.