The Dominion. TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 1916, THE ATTITUDE OF SWEDEN

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2880, 19 September 1916, Page 4

The Dominion. TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 1916, THE ATTITUDE OF SWEDEN

. q Sweden is again.' giving the En-1 tcnte Powers grounds for distrusting her attitude. The facts stated in tho Note recently sent by the Allies amjily justify the contention tho Swedish Government is making use of its powersof regulating the navigation of its territorial waters in a manner which is helpful to tho Germans and prejudicial to tho'Allies. It is somewhat significant that tho reply to this communication should bo of a nature calculated to give offence. Why should tho Swedish Government adopt this tone of hostility to tho Entente Powers and display so littlo concorn as to tho possibility of giving oftenco to such powerful neighbours? Tho Swedish Government.must know that the. Allies aro not at all likely to permit Sweden, or any other State, to givo direct or indirect assistance to tho Germanic group without retaliation. Tho Allies havo a right to demand that Sweden shall maintain, that "absolute and impartial neutrality" which her Prime Minister recently declared was tho policy of his country.. But iu spite of this declaration there have been signs of increased activity among tho pro-Ger-man party, and it is open to doubt whether the Government is imprcgnablo against tho pressui'o coming from that quartor. Speaking iu tho Sccond Chamber some months ago, Mr. Bhanti.ng, leader of tho Social Democratic Party) said he feared that.tho direction of affairs iu tho future would not be maintained in so decidedly neutral a- manner as formerly. It is plain from recont events that there was somo ground for the suspicion. Tho speech in wliioh tho Prirno Minister of Sweden explained the principles of neutrality on which bo intended to act gavo riso to sonio adverse comment in Petrograd. Tho Bourse Gazette, it is true, regarded it as merely ;i demonstration undertaken to satisfy tho demands .of Berlin, and expressed tho opinion that however great tho Germanic pressure upon Sweden might be, it would bo powerless to push her into the path of adventure and ruin. Tho No vac Vremya, however, took a more serious view of tho matter, and stated that Sweden's prohibition of tho exportation of wood pulp to England represented tho first step of commercial warfaro against Russia's Allies. This Russian newspaper wont on to express regret that the Swedish Government, which had hitherto displayed so much wise tranquillity, was beginning to yield to dangerous inspirations wliioh sought to sacrifice tho Swedish people to alien interests. Other Russian commentators expressed _ surprise that the Swedish authorities should show indignation. at Britain's naval policy, though it had not caused tho loss of a single Swedish lifo, and at the same time should be bo complacent regarding German piracy, from which Swedish ships and seamen had suffered so severely. Sweden is afraid of Russia. Sho is suspicious of her great Muscovite neighbour. She fears that Russia intends to sccure an outlet on to tho Atlantic at her expense. Germany has done her best to prevent a full reconciliation between Russia, and Sweden. By her poisonous whisperings she has endeavoured to make the Swedish people believe that Russia is waiting for a favourable opportunity for the annexation of a portion of their country. That more than anything else, is at the bottom of Sweden's friendliness to Germany. She would like to see Russia crippled, and rendered helpless for many years to come. Yet it should be obvious to her that if Russia- secured an outlet for her trade through the Dardanelles, her urgent need for a warm water port on the Atlantic seaboard would be removed. At any rate its keenness would be greatly diminished. Fair-minded and unprejudiced Swedes realise

this, and would strongly oppose any attempt to embroil Sweden in tho present war as an ally of Germany, or even to strain her neutrality in favour of the Central Powers. This verylarge section of the population cordially welcomed the recent assurances given by the. Russian Foreign Minister of his country's goodwill towards Sweden. Sweden (he said) may feel the need of taking measures for the defence of her frontiers, but we can declare categorically that she will not have to defend them against Russia. Great Britain is forccd to defend her legitimate interests, which demand the eradication of German maritime contraband. But Great Britain is doing her utmost not to compromise- the interests of neutral countries, inoluding those of Sweden. In these circumstances it is hoped that all misunderstandings will be finally dispelled'. This straightforward and entirely friendly statement seems to have created a good "impression in Sweden. A leading Stockholm journal in commenting on it asserted, thst the people of Sweden were sincerely desirous of maintaining tho friendliest relations with Russia, and that Russia's attitude towards Sweden throughout the war had been most correct and friendly. But the increasing pressure of the British blockade and the inexorable contraction of tho iron ring which the Allies have formed around tho Central Powers has caused a corresponding increase in the energy of the pro-German propaganda in Sweden. The Swedish Court has close personal relations with the Hohenzollerns, tho Grand Ducal family of Baden, and other German royalties. This is a fact that must be taken into consideration, and ill order to arrive at a proper understanding of tho_ position it must also he home in mind that many ardent and aggressive sympathisers with Germany are to be found among the' military and academic classes. German kultur and Gorman methods have many admirers in Sweden who aro doing their utmost to influence public opinion. They are making all tho mischief they can in connection with tho restrictions which our blockaclo has put upon Sweden's trade, and are tireless in thoir advocacy of a policy of retaliation. Still Sivcdcn is a freedom-loving nation, and recognises tho part Britain has played as tho great pioneer of liberty. In spite of tho reckless ravings and unscrupulous intrigue of German agonts, thcro is reason to believe that tho majority of_ tho Swedish people realise tho wisdom of a strictly neutral policy and sec tho folly of incurring tho resentment of Great Britain and her Allies, and running tho risk of boing involved in Germany's coming downfall. Tho Swedish Government, however, has more than once displayed hostility to tho Entente Powers, and it may ho that it needs a sharp lesson to bring it to its souses.