VANISHING DRIED FRUIT

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3198, 24 September 1917, Page 6

VANISHING DRIED FRUIT

MYSTERY OF SWEDEN'S WAR-TIME ~ APPETITE. How Sweden has doubled her consumption—or, as the Attoniey-Geileral said, her import-of dried fruits from. America was described in the British Pruse Court recently, when tho Crown asksd. tor condemnation of 2000 tons seized in two steamers. Though the fruit was consigned to the Swedish Victualling Commis'sion, the Crown alleged that it was des-tined-for Germany. .In his speech the Attomey-Gensral suggested tn&t .though tho object of tho Swedish Victualling Commission was to ensure adequate foodstuffs for Sweden they were really acting as agents tor Swedish importers, and that by omitting the names of the real consignees goods could be exported to Germany. Before the war Sweden's dried fruit requirements were 6500 tons a year. In 181 a, after six months' war, the import was 11,568 tons. In the first half of 1016 thev received 6500 tons. In tho two I vessels in'.question there were about 3000 tons not included in the present case. When the war broke out Sweden had a stock of 11,000 tons, nearly suthciont for two years, but, accordiuy to an affidavit by the Swedish Commission, no dried fruits remained in the summer ot 1916 The inference froiii that was irresistible that tho guarantees and assurances that such goods were not to bo exported from Sweden had been systematically broken. ~a , Tho President said that the ucrtifiLiites from the banks produced by the loinmission, wevo very unsatisfactory. Ihej giinplv said, "Wo liavo received payment,'" with no information as lo when, where, and by whom. Later ho said it -seemed a question whether the mattei should not be dealt with through tho diplomatic channels.