The sea coast echo., 1905-01-28
a SWEDISH CITY IN PAWN.
IT BECOMES GERMAN AFTER
BEING MoRTGAGED A
CENTURY,.
The Odd Taste Of Wlsmar, Port OF
OF $4,000 on the Baltlc---lt Was
Pledged by King Gustav w. for
Loan Of $1,oooooo.

Wismar. a port of $4,000 people on
the Baltic, situated in the German
Duchy of Mecklenbnrg-Schw but
belonging legally to Sweden, has re-
Gently become German city, II was
pledged by King Gustav ~ for loan
Of $l,000000, and the King Of Sweden
having failed to redeem It within the
century. It has passed to the Duke Of
Meclilenburg. .Schwerin, from whose
ancestor the money was borrowed.
Wismar is a very ancient town. Ac-
cordIng to one legend 1t was 800 years
old at the beginning Of the Christian
era. Another tradition says II was
built early in the fourth century by
Wismarus, King of the .Yandals. 1t
grew in power and in the European
struggle frequently changed hands,
for 1t was a strong ally and for
midable enemy.
In the early part OF the eighteenth
century. Denmark, the most powerful
enemy Of Sweden, after the dest?uc-
tion Of the Hanseatlc League Ga kind
of trade union established by certain
German cities for safety and CONNER
cial purposes), captured Wismnr and
razed the fortfcations. After ward
peace was declared and the city re.
yerted to Sweden. but with the pro.
vision that she should not rebuild the
fortlllcatlons. The place thus lost Its
strength and importance and became
instead an element OF weakness to the
Swedes. Its great sea trade was ruin
ed and It's inland trade lost.
Under these circumstances II was
not surprising that the Swedes tired
at last OF their white elephant So in
the reign of the incompetent and ex.
travagant Gustavus ", with territory
lost to the French in one war, with
| Finland lost to Russia with defeat In
a 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 |. That person moi
unnaturally resented the insult and
threatened dire things. Finally, mis-
threats crystallzed into demand foI
an enormous indemnity. The raoney
had to be raised at once. The Duchy
of Mecklenburg advanced 1,2JS,00C
reichsthaler and took Wismar, Neuk
loster and the Island of Poel 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 tho 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
tion OF the time, the contract would
become renewed automatically for an
other 100 years. The sum which
Sweden would have had to pay IL she
wished to claim Wlsmar and the two
government districts Is figured as
amounting to S27Q0O,00O, and this
alone, quite apart from considerations
OF policy, operated doubtless as bal
against the assertion of her rights.
Thus we see that while the immed
late business transaction dates bncl
but about 100 years, any diplomatic
squabbles over the city now would
have to revert to the surrenders ant
armistlCes of the thirty years wal
! (16lS-164S). And the fact that Wis
mar heretofore really was Swedish
territory explains why Germany har
not fortified the port, which is con
sidered the finest harbor site of thu
entire Baltic coast. Under the Swed
ish-Danish treaty fortfications wer,
not to be built and when the Ouch,
Of MeckIenburg took over the plac,
the stipulation was renewed.
Among the beautiful buildings thai
date back to Wismar's glorious pas
are the Archdeacon's house, erected
in 1850, and the old schoolhuuse, dat
! t,,ar hoa 10 aL