Gilpin observer., 1907-02-28
CITY LONG IN pawn
SWEDEN, NOT REDEEMlNG WIS.
MAR, 1T BECOMES GERMAN.
Pledged by King Gustavus w. for Loan
of Million Dollars-Consid-
cred Finest Harbor Site
on Baltic Coast.

London.-Wismar, a port OF $4,000
people on the Baltic, situated in the
German duchy of Meclllenburs-
Sckwerin, but belonging legally to
Sweden, has recently become Ger
man city. 1t was pledged by King.
Gustavus ". for loan of 100000
and the king of Sweden having failed
to redeem it within the century it has
passed to the duke of Mecklenburg'
Schwerin, from whose ancestors the
money was borrowed
In the early part of the eighteenth
century the most powerful enemy of
Sweden, after the destruction of the
Hanseatic league, kind of trade
union established by certain German
cities for safety and commercial pur-
poses, captured Wismar and raZed the
fortifcations. Afterward peace was
declared and the city reverted to
Sweden, but with the provision that
she should not rebuild the fortifica.
tions. The place thus lost its
strength and Importance and became
instead an element of weakness to the
5wedes. It's great sea trade was
1ulneu anu lIS lnldnu lTdue lOSl.
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
travagant Gustavis 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
Ei.aerick Franz |. That person not
rlnhaturally resented the insult ard
threatened dire things. Finally his
threats crystalliZed into demand for
an enormous indemnity. The money
had to be raised at once. The duchy
of Mecklenburg advanced 1,25S.0O0
'reichsthaler and took Wismar, Neuk-
loster and the Island of Poel as Sc.
curity.
Under the conditions of the loan the
city of Wismar and the two govern.
ments were to remain in pledge for
100 years. AT the end of that time
Sweden might 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
lean was that should Sweden fa.! to
take any notice whatever of the eX-
piration of tho time the contract would
be thereby renewed for another 100
years. The sum which Sweden would
have ha to pay if she wanted to claim
Wismar and the two government dis
tricts is figured as amounting to $27,-
100000, and this alone, quite apart
from considerations of policy, oper-
ated, doubtless. as bar against the
assertion of her rights.
1t will be seen that while the imme-
diate 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
l6lS-4S. And the fact that heretofore
Wismar has been Swedish territory
explains why Germany has not forti-
fled the port, which is considered the
fiLest harbor site of the entire Baltic
coast. Under the SwedishD Danish
treaty Notifications were not to be
built and when the duchy of Meckien-
burg took over the place the stipula-
tion was renewed.