THE SWEDES.

Taihape Daily Times, 13 November 1917, Page 7

THE SWEDES.

“TWO-THIRDS PRO-ALLY.” Mr S. T. Consui-cteneral for Sweden, has returned to Sydney after a year’s absence, a large portion of which was spent in Sewden. Peeling ran high in Sweden over the Luxburg case, sai,d Mr Goes to a reporter of the Daily Telegraph. Sweden may have been incautious, but that was the worst that could be said. She had no idea that the business was going on The feeling of bitter disgust which swept the country was ■well exemplified at the recent elections, when ? largely owing to that affair, the Conservative Party lost two seats, and was now in the minority. The Socialistic party had benefited correspondingly, and was obtaining a big hold in Sweden. Mr Branting, the editor of the Social Demokraten weilded considerable power, and he was almost fanatically pro-ally. It could be safely said that two-thirds of Sweden’s population strongly favoured the Allied cause.

Germany, continued Mr Goes, had alienated a lot of sympathy in Sweden by her ruthless actions. Two acts stood out above t-he others. First there was the sinking of a big Swedish sailing vessel off the coast of Spain. That vessel carried fertilisers for Swedish agriculturists and her destruction was unwarranted. Then Germany sank a large number of fishing boats, a most wanton act, which caused very bad feeling_ “NOT FEEDING GERMANY.” Statements had been made proceeded Mr Goes, that Sweden -was feeding G&smany.-'.: That was quite incorrect. Regarding Sweden’s imports of wheat, it must be remembered th4t Sweden was not self-supporting, but had to import about one-third of its consumption. Official figures showed that in 1913 Sweden’s imports of wheat and flour were higher than in 1914, 1915, or 1916. During the latter year small quantities may have been exported to Germany in return for the coal which Sweden had perforce to got from Germany, but so far this year no wheat at all had been sent tc the Central Powers. During the whole of 1915 only 1200 bushels of wheat were sent into Germany — a negligible quantity. This year no meat at all had been exported to Gqrmany_ In 1915 the total amount of meat, perk and cattie sent across was 28,000 tons, and in 4916 about 20,000 tons. Taking Germany’s population a t 65 millions Sweden’s quota for 1915 represented .one pound of meat per inhabitant per year and for 1910 eleven ounces. That was what some people called “feeding Germany.” No butter at all had been

sent to Germany this year. Mr Goes said lie hoped the people of Australia would see how the feeling of Sweden was becoming more and more pro-Ally. Some day he hoped even to obtain wheat from Australia for Sweden.' There was 'a serious shortage of wheat and flour in that country, and the poorer class —pro-Ally almost without exception—were the sufferers. There was a warm friendliness among Swedes towards A proof of this feeling was the fact that in January next a Consulate-General would be established here.