SCANDINAVIA AND THE WAR.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 1578, 18 July 1916, Page 4

SCANDINAVIA AND THE WAR.

Tilt! advocacy of till! Swedish policy of activism is beginning to have an alarming effect iu Norway, where public opinion is decidedly opposed to it. A leading Norwegian newspaper, the Tidens Tegn, recently commented on the subject, as follows; —“Nobody can ignore the war agitation that has been commenced in Sweden. We are perfectly aware that the Swedish Government is not responsible for this dangerous movement, but it has its origin in influences too powerful to he underesiUnated by Norwegians, Norway entertained no other sentiment than that of friendship towards the Swedish people, but Swedish activists would misunderstand the situation if from this sentiment of goodwill, manifested alike by the Norwegian Government and people, they concluded that thej' might eventually rely upon our support should Sweden decide to embark on perilous adventures. The foreign policy pursued by the Norwegian Government endeavours to maintain a correct and impartial neutrality. This policy has been supported by all Norwegian parties, Norway not being a prey to agitators inciting to war and directing their energies to destroy concord, and prepare a calamity for the Scandinavian nation.

But if Ihe activities should unfortunately succeed in influencing the Swedish Government, and thus dragging the peninsula into war —a thing which wo hope is impossible —it i* obviously necessary to review the situation anew and to revise the foreign policy of Norway. AVe must contemplate Ihe possibility of a, situation that might mean a question of life or death for our country, and consequently our acts will be solely determined by consider}! lions relative to the future of our country.”