New-York daily tribune., 1856-01-14
THE TREATY WITH SWEDEN.

lous piece of aty-making. Sardinia, siezed by
England and France with diplomatic gentleness
riyaling the gymnastics ofthe hOgkillers in Cincin
natl of late so graphically described in our columns
is first thrown into the boiling cauldron of wars
toll and trouble; and now, to continue the Porcine
metaphor, Sweden is caught by the hind-leg by
the same political butchers. 1t is difficult, how
ever at this time, before we have the details and
antecedens of the negotiation, TO find out the real
meaning of the treaty just made by the Allies and
the latter Power 1t is called a defensive treaty,
but no statement of reasons for its adoption accom-
panies it. according TO custom in such matters
We do not indeed call to mind any treaty patched
up under similar circumstances. No encroach-
ment whatever On the side of Russia is known to
have melted ii, or is at all mentioned. No COM
plant on the Swedish side has been made public
On the contrary, Sweden, OF at least King Oscar
has uniformly declared that Russia has given him
no cause to complain. This declaration is quite
credible, for it would be madness for the Gar to
deal otherwise than most tenderly with neighbor,
under such circumstances as the present.
BY this treaty, neutrality is not altogether and
openly abandoned, but Sweden puts herself under
cover of the Allies, renOuncing even her own
decision and right of action. The principal point,
however relates to fisheries and pasturages, which
henceforth Sweden is bound not to concede
10 Russia without French and English per-
mission; and the same qualification extonds to
concessions of Swedish territory if required by
Russia. 1t might be inferred from this that
the Gar had made demands for such conces-
sons; but this may be doubted, as his head and
hands are full Of other matters than those afforded
by granite rocks in the polar region. The En-
peror Nicholas may have wished TO possess sta
ton for the Russian military and commercial veg
sells in some of the harbOrs of Norway that do not
freeze in order thus 10 facilitate the communica-
tions between the harbOrs of the Baltic and the
White Seas Such wish could only have been
realized by friendly negotiation, and could not be
pregnant with the danger of an invasion. As to the
right of fishing along the shores, that question was
settled in its most minute details forty. y.fve years
Ego by the convention of TOrnea concluded in
$50. This regulated the frontiers and the rights
of subjects dwelling on sesshores islands, river
banks, and lands separating Sweden and Finland,
which had been acquired by Russia through the
Friederickssmm treaty of 1909, after disastrous
war 10 which Sweden was melted by England. If
border warfare has taken place since that period,
if pasturages have been invaded it cOuld only have
been a family broil, as the Imperial Government
does not possess sny domains in that quarter Along
the banks of the River Tornea, north of the city of
that name, dwell only Finnish populations on the
Swedish equally with the Russian side: and it is
difficult to imagine that the encroachment ON pri-
vae lands by friendly and homogeneous inhabitants
could menace the integrity Of Sweden, or cause her
10 take refuge under the falcon wing of France
and England.
AS il stands now, this treaty is either al insult
| 70 Russia, or will soon be considered. The Sc
cret article said TO BE- annexed 70 IT, is doubtless its
principal feature. lis published articles seem
rather 10 provoke quarre surreptitiously than to
exhibit the manlness OF doing it openly If SO, tits
not n commeudabe thing. If Sweden desired 10
profit by the cntanglemenIs of Russia, and TO re-
cover her lost possessions be should have joined
the alliance and boldly declared war However.
| if the war continues and Sweden takes part in
! If, she may recover her Finnish possessions; but
should il be soon concluded, then this minatOry
treaty will probably rankle in the heart of the
stronger Power which seldom forgets or forgiyes
| injuries.
Moreover, the course formerly taken BY Sweden at
the insgation Of England, proved fatal to the yssas
and TO the country itself In 1909 England sllured
Gustavus ", by a subsidy of $1,000 600, to
declare war against Russia. England then sban-
doned her slly at least did not succor her. Rus
sis then an ally of Napoleon, being provoked by
the Anglo-Swedish alliance, invaded and con-
| quered Finland snd Gustayus was obliged by the