DENMARK: Stiffening

Ever since Denmark’s Premier Thorvald Stauning made a pessimistic New Year’s broadcast, Copenhagen papers have debated whether he meant to imply that the country would not resist if invaded. Most of them demanded a stiffer stand. Last week they got it. Bucked by Sweden’s plain talk to Russia (see above), the six major parties of Denmark’s Folketing (lower house) jointly moved and passed unanimously (one North Schleswig member not voting) a resolution which said:

“All parts of the Danish people agree that the country’s neutrality must be maintained and that all disposable means shall be used if necessary to . . . protect the realm’s peace and independence.”

Premier Stauning, either because he had stopped wobbling or because he knew what was politically wise, endorsed the resolution. As Norway issued a similar proclamation on the same day, nobody had any more doubt last week that Scandinavia would fight if attacked.