NORWAY: First Out, First In

The first of Europe’s kings to be pushed out of his country by the Nazis was the first to come back. In London Norway’s Haakon VII waited for a symbolic date before following Premier Johan Nygaardsvold and the members of the Norwegian Government in Exile who returned to Oslo last week. The homing officials were somewhat uncertain about the changes in Norway’s political climate during their absence. But seldom has a returning Government in Exile been so warmly welcomed. Hundreds of fjordside villagers went out in small boats to meet the liner which brought Nygaardsvold home. When the Premier and his Ministers walked down the gangplank, hundreds of stolid Norwegians wept.

Canny Premier Nygaardsvold at once announced his Cabinet’s resignation, to take effect when King Haakon returned on June 7, fifth anniversary of the King’s flight to Britain, 40th anniversary of the birth of modern Norway.