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W. Earl Hall World War II stories, 1944

1944-09-21 Letter #37

slug-Olav Worried-4
Passed for Publication
21 Sep 1944
By W. EARL HALL
Globe-Gazette managing Editor
Letter No. 37
London, England, (Army Air Mail Special)--A Norway made stronger and more virile by the trials to which it has been subjected during the war was predicted by Crown Prince Olav of Norway during the course of an interview in his office at the Norwegian embassy here this morning.
"Yes," he observed, quietly and in perfectly enunciated English, "the Norwegian people have suffered much.  But their spirit is alive and vital.  They are impatient, of course, as am I, for a return to the freedom and independence they once know.  Certainly there is reason for optimism now."
Then he proceeded to describe Norway's present plight.
"Our most pressing worry," he said, "is food.  Norway normally imports considerable food but little if any is being received now.  And there are the German soldiers to be fed.  They take the best and the Norwegians get only what is left."
Norway's situation with respect to food, he explained, is vastly different from that in France for the reason that France regularly produces the great bulk of its foodstuffs.  In fact it always has had some for export.
In contrast, Norway, because of its pathetically small proportion of arable land, has always been short in certain areas, notably grains.  Fishing has been a principal source of nutrition and fish alone doesn't make for a balanced diet.
The prince made no attempt to conceal his concern for his people if German occupation of Norway should continue through the winter.  Like Carl Hambro, with whom I talked earlier in the week, Olav made no prediction as to which the Nazi evacuation would come
And even if withdrawal should come immediately, there will be a great problem in getting an adequacy of food into Norway to make up for what has been stolen from its people.
"Norway," he observed with obvious pride, "is in a position to pay for what she needs.  I don't necessarily mean that it would be possible to make full payment in cash.  But we could arrange to take care of the payment on a reasonable basis.  It isn't charity that's wanted."
Rep. Karl E. Hundt of South Dakota was in the party that interviewed the crown prince and gave him assurance that he would do what he could when he returns to Washington to impress UNRRA, the international relief agency, with the urgent need for action in supplying food to Norway at the earliest possible moment.
Crown Prince Olav looks forward with hope to the postwar years.  
"Surely," he observed, "Norway will cooperate to the fullest in any practical program for maintaining peace.  Though opinion is not necessarily developed along specific lines, it appears that the people of my country will go along on any practical program for enforcing peace upon gangster nations."
Illustrative of the food shortage in Norway, the crown prince recalled the amusing experience of a friend living in a Norwegian city.  His 5-year old daughter had never tasted meat.
On a recent trip to the country, a farmer served some meat from his carefully hidden stock.  The little girl was delighted.  But she didn't know it was meat.
"Daddy," she asked, "Why can't we get fish that tastes like this at home?"
The prince recalled with pleasure his visit to the middle west, including Decorah, Ia., in 1939.  He asked to be remembered to his American friends and voiced full confidence in American-Norwegian friendship.
Olav is the active commander-in-chief of Norway's armed forces.  Princess Martha and their 3 children--Ragnhild, Astris and Harald--are in the United States.
One dominant aspiration he shares with every G.I. Joe:  He looks forward to the day when he can be at home with his family in his own country.
--  30  --

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slug-Olav Worried-4 Passed for Publication 21 Sep 1944 By W. EARL HALL Globe-Gazette managing Editor Letter No. 37 London, England, (Army Air Mail Special)--A Norway made stronger and more virile by the trials to which it has been subjected during the war was predicted by Crown Prince Olav of Norway during the course of an interview in his office at the Norwegian embassy here this morning. "Yes," he observed, quietly and in perfectly enunciated English, "the Norwegian people have suffered much. But their spirit is alive and vital. They are impatient, of course, as am I, for a return to the freedom and independence they once know. Certainly there is reason for optimism now." Then he proceeded to describe Norway's present plight. "Our most pressing worry," he said, "is food. Norway normally imports considerable food but little if any is being received now. And there are the German soldiers to be fed. They take the best and the Norwegians get only what is left." Norway's situation with respect to food, he explained, is vastly different from that in France for the reason that France regularly produces the great bulk of its foodstuffs. In fact it always has had some for export. In contrast, Norway, because of its pathetically small proportion of arable land, has always been short in certain areas, notably grains. Fishing has been a principal source of nutrition and fish alone doesn't make for a balanced diet. The prince made no attempt to conceal his concern for his people if German occupation of Norway should continue through the winter. Like Carl Hambro, with whom I talked earlier in the week, Olav made no prediction as to which the Nazi evacuation would come And even if withdrawal should come immediately, there will be a great problem in getting an adequacy of food into Norway to make up for what has been stolen from its people. "Norway," he observed with obvious pride, "is in a position to pay for what she needs. I don't necessarily mean that it would be possible to make full payment in cash. But we could arrange to take care of the payment on a reasonable basis. It isn't charity that's wanted." Rep. Karl E. Hundt of South Dakota was in the party that interviewed the crown prince and gave him assurance that he would do what he could when he returns to Washington to impress UNRRA, the international relief agency, with the urgent need for action in supplying food to Norway at the earliest possible moment. Crown Prince Olav looks forward with hope to the postwar years. "Surely," he observed, "Norway will cooperate to the fullest in any practical program for maintaining peace. Though opinion is not necessarily developed along specific lines, it appears that the people of my country will go along on any practical program for enforcing peace upon gangster nations." Illustrative of the food shortage in Norway, the crown prince recalled the amusing experience of a friend living in a Norwegian city. His 5-year old daughter had never tasted meat. On a recent trip to the country, a farmer served some meat from his carefully hidden stock. The little girl was delighted. But she didn't know it was meat. "Daddy," she asked, "Why can't we get fish that tastes like this at home?" The prince recalled with pleasure his visit to the middle west, including Decorah, Ia., in 1939. He asked to be remembered to his American friends and voiced full confidence in American-Norwegian friendship. Olav is the active commander-in-chief of Norway's armed forces. Princess Martha and their 3 children--Ragnhild, Astris and Harald--are in the United States. One dominant aspiration he shares with every G.I. Joe: He looks forward to the day when he can be at home with his family in his own country. -- 30 --