The Lee County journal. (Leesburg, Ga.) 1904-19??, 1904-10-28
A SWEDISH CITY IN PAWN.
1T BECOMES GERMAN AFTER
BEING MoRTGAGED A
CENTURY.
The odd Taste Of Wismar; Port Of
of 1900 on the 5aItic-lt Was
Pledged by King Gustav w. for a
Loan of 100000.

Wismar, a port of $4,000 people on
the Baltic, situated in the German
Duchy of NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS., but
belonging legally to Sweden, has re-
Gently become a German city. It was
pledged by King Gustav w. for loan
of 81 100000, and the King of Sweden
having failed to redeem it within the
century, 1t has passed to the Duke OF
neutrality-suspicious., from whose
ancestor the money was borrowed.
Wismar is a very ancient town. Ac-
cording to one legend it was 300 years
old at the beginning of the Christian
era. Another tradition says it was
built early in the fourth century by
Wismarus, King of the Vandals. 1t
grew in power and in the European
struggle frequently changed hands,
for 1t was a strong ally and a for
midable enemy.
In the early part of the eighteenth
century, Denmark, the most powerful
enemy of Sweden, after the destTuc-
ton of the Hanseatic League Ga kind
of trade union established by certain
German cities for safety and CONNER
cial purposes captured Wismar and
RACED the Notifications Afte ward
peace was declared and the city re-
verted to Sweden. but with the pro-
vision that she should not rebuild the
Notifications The place thus lost it's
strength and Importance and became
instead an element OF weakness to the
Swedes It's great sea trade was ruin
ed and it's inland trade lost.
Under these circumstances it was
not surprising that the Swedes tired
at last of their white elephant, So in
the reign Of the incompetent and ex-
trayagant Gustavus w, with territory
lost to the French in one war. with
Finland lost to Russia, with defeat in
war against Norway the Swedes
seized an opportunity to relieve them
selves Of the burden Of possession
The direct opportunity was given
by the cancellation by Gustavus Of his
engagement TO the daughter Of Duke
Frederick Franz l. That person not
unnaturally resented the insult and
threatened dire things. Finally, mis-
threats crystalized into a demand for
an enormous indemnity The roney
had to be raised at once The Duchy
of Mecklenburg advanced 1,258,000
reichsthaler and took Wismar, Neuk-
loster and the Island of Peel as secur-
ity.
Under the conditions Of the loan the
city of Wismar and the two govern
ment districts were to remain in
pledge for 100 years. At the end Of
the 100 years Sweden could claim and
obtain the pledged city and land by
paying back the original loan with
three per cent compound interest A
further provision, however, of the loan
was that should Sweden fail to take
anw notice whatever of the expira-
ton Of the time, the contract would
become renewed automatically for an
other 100 years. The sum which
Sweden would have had to pay if she
wished to claim Wismar and the two
government districts is figured as
amounting to $27.OOO,OOO, and this
alone, quite apart from considerations
of policy. operated doubtless as a bar
against the assertion Of her rights
Thus we see that while the immed-
late business transaction dates back
but about 100 years, any diplomatic
squabbles over the city now would
have to revert, to the surrenders. and
armistices of the thirty years war
(161S-1648). And the fact that Wis
mar heretofore really was Swedish
territory explains why Germany has
not fortified the port which is con
sidered the finest harbor site of the
entire Baltic coast. Under the Swed-
ish-Danish treaty Notifications were