12 SEPTEMBER 1946, Page 12

ANGLO-DANISH RELATIONS

Sts,—The Danish subscribers of The Spectator note with much interest and satisfaction the articles and letters to the Editor dealing with Anglo- Danish relations and the South Slesvig problems, but I would like to correct the theory of Mr. Mark Baker (August 3oth, page 216), that " Given the clothes and fuel they need, the Danes will be in a much more friendly state of mind for discussing purely political problems." It is quite correct that in Denmark we hope eventually to get more British goods in exchange for the butter, eggs and bacon, etc„ now being exported to the U.K. in as large quantities as we can produce, though at prices which do not correspond with our exnenses and general price-level, the latter having risen greatly during the war, largely because of plunderings carried out by the Germans. But a " friendly state of mind " towards Great Britain does already prevail in Denmark, as any Briton visiting Denmark no doubt will testify ; and this fact also explains why we restrain •ourselves when criticising the measures adopted by the British Military Authorities to suppress the activities of the Danish minorities in the German province of South Slesvig—ancient Danish territory in the southern part of the Jutland peninsula. That at present we get far fewer British goods than we need is hardly ever commented upon in Denmark. Everybody understands that British industry must take some little time to revert to peace-time production ; but no amount of clothing, fuel, etc., from any source will make us forget the Danish minorities in South Slesvig. When North Slesvig after the first world war was reunited with Denmark, in accordance with the results of the plebiscite -held, our Government expressly promised the minorities south of the new frontier : " You will never be forgotten," and we are thus pledged by our wora" as well as by our natural sympathies. Since Mr. Ensor wrote his article, stating our cause very fairly and satisfactorily, the British measures-in South Slesvig have been aggravated. Nearly every week some new serious development is reported, the latest item (September 4th) being that we were prohibited from sending teachers from Denmark to the Danish schools in South Slesvig.—Yours faithfully,