military@att.att.com (Bill Thacker) (02/09/90)
From: military@att.att.com (Bill Thacker) Monday, 5 February, 1940 In the face of numerous questions of Dutch military readiness, Commander in Chief General Reynders resigns. Britain offers to release 9 of the 21 Germans seized from the liner Asama Maru two weeks ago, but Japan refuses, demanding the freedom of all the Germans. The Allied Supreme War Council approves a plan for armed intervention in Finland with an expeditionary force of three divisions. It is also agreed that, if necessary, the troops will land in northern Norway, despite that nation's neutrality. The US Maritime Commission anounces the sail to Britain and France of 113,000 tons of old American merchant ships. The American Civil Liberties Union votes to bar from office any Communist, Fascist, or sympathizers of organizations with "obvious anti-democratic objectives or practices." -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- Bill Thacker military@cbnews.att.com Send submissions for "50 Years Ago" to military-request@att.att.com "It is a blow to the Allies' desire to tighten the blockade against Germany by dragging Southeastern Europe into the conflict." - unidentified German spokesman, referring to the closing statements of the Balkan Entente.