Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1908-07-16
SWEDEN.

SWEDEN.
A Stockholm writer has the follow
ing in reference to the vacancy in
the Swedish legation at Washington:
There appears to be some doubt
here about who is, or is going to be,
the Swedish minister in Washington.
Norwegian paper asserted few
days ago that Mr., Lagercrantz was
persona non grata' in the United
States mainly on account of his agi-
tation for the return of Swedish-Amar-
leans to the old country, or, rather,
for an excess of zeal in his efforts.
That is hardly the case, however, al
though he may have received hints
that the Washington government did
not approve of any official interior
ence in the matter. For all anybody
knows at present, Mr.. Lagercrantz
may go back to his post, but people
are busy specializing on the choice OF
his successor AS a likely candidate
is mentioned a Count Carl Yacht
meister, intrinsically person of
small Importance but member OF
very influential family. The latter cir
cumstance, happily, will count for very
| little during the present regime; but
! he also possesses an energetic wife, a
| les MONIES. girl with sCme money,
| which is worth more. Certain it is
| that his rise has been rapid since his
marriage ] knew him during the
nineties, while he labored in Chica-
go Office, duh sort Of an individual,
of no particular genius or education.
| Upon his marriage he entered the
| Swedish consular service, a step
which was not strictly in order, as he
did not possess the requisite scholas-
tic degrees He is now consul gen
! eral in Alexandria, with the addition
al distinction OF councillor, We |, he
may have learned something during
| his recent carcer and make an ac-
ceptable minister All any rate, he
ought to know few things about the
United States that are not taught at
school.
The following special dispatch from
Stockholm will be read with general
interest:
politics in Stockholm, as reflected
| from without, have not been devoid
of interest of late even if nothing
! definite has been accomplished The
visit of King Gustaf to the court of
the kaiser was not intended as q
| demonstration of friendship or rap
prochement' between the two coun-
tries. There was nc need of it; hav-
ing been no breach in the unenthusi-
astic cordial relations of the last quar-
ter century and closer relations being
! out Of the question for the present
! The German papers, however, warmed
up to an uncustomary degree in their
comments over the meeting
THAT fact very flattering to Swed-
ish amour propre,' drew down upon
the Swedish king and the country
generally a most vicious and biting
article by lie Temps of Paris. Curl
ously enough but Indicating q return
to ca1mness after the extreme ner-
vousness of the last two years, the
article overshot the mark. The lead
| ing papers 20 So Id DIS W 1eCl Idlutt
complacent over the affair and see in
the outburst of the great French pa
| per testimony of the increased i'm
portance of Sweden in the European
council The slap contained in the
sentence: The French government
/ cares little or nothing for what is said
or done in Stockholm stuck in the
throat and won't be forgotten here
in hurry On the other hand, no
body can fail to notice the absurdity
of the remark, unless one assumes
that serious paners take delight in
writing editorials about matters to
which they and their readers are in
different, Most probably it was a
'ballcn dessai'-which failed. There
is another side to the affair which de-
serves attention.
/ "Tke article is directed pcint-blank
on the king in person and confirms
previous assertions that King Gustaf
is personally in supreme command at
the foreign Office. That person is as
imperturbable as ever and as no state
ment was issued either directly or
through the foreign office, we may
safely conclude that the Temps arti-
Gle has no weight behind it."
NORWAY.