The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1907-05-01
CITY IN PAWN 100 YEARS.
Sweden, Failing to Redeem Wismar,
II Becomes a German Town.


Wismar, port Of $4,000 people ON
the Baltic, situated in the German
duchy of Mecklenburg-Sch but
belonging legally to Sweden, has re-
Gently become a German city, says the
Chicago Chronicle. 1t was pledged to
King Gustavus w. for a loan Of ST.
100000, and the king Of Sweden hav-
ing failed to redeem it within the
century it has passed to the Duke OF
Mecklenburg-Schferi from whose an
cestors 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 Notifications. 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 Swedes.
It's great sea trade was ruined and lts
inland trade lost.
Under these circumstances it was
not surprising that the Swedes tired
at last Of their white elephont So in
the reign of the incompetent and eX-
travagant Gustavus w., with the ter
ritory lost to the French in one war,
with Finland lost to Russia, with de-
feat in a war against Norway, the
Swedes seized an opportunity to re-
lieve themselves of the burden OF pos
session.
The direct opportunity was given by
the cancellation by Gustavus OF his
engagement to the daughter of Duke
Frederick Francis |. That person not
unnaturally resented the insult and
threatened dire things. Finally his
threats crystalized into a demand for
an enormous indemnity. The money
had to be raised at once. The duchy
of Mecklenburg advanced 1,25S,OOO
richsthaler 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 gov
ernment districts were to remain in
pledges for 100 years. At the end or
that time Sweden might claim and
obtain the pledged city and land by
paying back the original loan, with 3
percent compound interest.
A further provision, however, OF
the loan was that should Sweden fail
70 take any notice whatever of the
expiration of the time, the contract
would thereby be renewed for anoth-
er 100 years. The sum which Swe-
den would have to pay If she wanted
to claim Wismar and the two govern
ment districts is figured as amounting
to s27 100000, and this alone, quite
apart from considerations of policy,
operated, doubtless, as bar against
the assertion of her rights.
It will be seen that while the imme-
diate business transaction dates back
but about 100 years, any diplomatic
suuaobles over the city row would
have to revert to the surrenders and
armistices Of the Thirty-Years' war
1els-4S. And the fact that heretofore
Wismar has been Swedish territory
explains why Germany has not forti-
fed the port, which is considered the
finest harbor site Of the entire Baltic
coast. Under the Swedish-Danish
treaty Notifications were not to be
built, and when the Duchy OF Neck
lenburg took over the place the stip-
ulaticn was renewed.