Thursday, March 7, 1940 - Anglo-Italian crisis over coal shipments

[Louis]

In the English Channel... British warships detain 6 Italian coal ships with cargos of German coal. This action follows a warning that Britain will seize all German coal found at sea. The ships are brought to Kent where they are anchored of the coast while the government decides whether to unload the cargoes. Four more Italian colliers have set sail from Rotterdam and a further six are loading with Rhineland coal destined for Italy where coal rationing is in force. Many Italians believe that the seizure of their ships is a deliberate attempt to force them to buy British coal on British terms. This becomes known as the "Coal Ships Affair".

In Paris... The prime minister, Edouard Daladier, meets the US envoy Sumner Welles.

The Winter War... Heavy fighting continues around Viipuri Bay.

Over Germany... RAF aircraft, operating from France, drop Polish language leaflets over German occupied Polish lands and German language leaflets over Leipzig and the Ruhr.