The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1915-10-23
PROHIBITION is BIG
ISSUE IN NORWAY
Prediction Is Made That Country Wide
Policy Will Be Adopted in the Near
Euture-Wine- Producing coun-
tries in Europe Dissatisfied.

Christiania, Norway, Oct. 23.-The
prohibition movement which, since the
| beginning of the war, has been gaining
momentum in all the Scandinavian coun-
tries, has become in Norway leading
issue in the present political campaign.
| Gnudar knudsen, the prime minister,
stated in recent speech that country
wide prohibition would be an achieve
ment of the near future. But except
among Socialist and radical circles which
have strongly espoused the prohibition
cause, il is thought that the economic
and international complications result
ing from such a reform will make il
limpractcable-or at least inadvisable.
The wine producing European coun-
tries do not look fayorably upon the cur
tailment of their liquor exports to Nor
way, and il is felt here that in the case
of prohibition reforms, they will under
take reprisals which viii seriously injure
the commercial and financial standing of
the country. In 1909, when the legisla-
ture passed bill restricting the import
Of French wines, Norwegian bonds were
refused a rating on the Paris exchange,
and the bill was repealed. The French
declaration, made az this time, 20 the
effect that France would assume the lib
erty Of making such an answer 60 any
Norwegian legislation detrimental To
Frances wine trade, Is still IN force.
France, Spain and Portugal, according
90 a tariff declaration Of 1910, will dou-
bic the duty on articles imported from
countries which throw difficulties in the
way Of the wine trader. The Norwegian
exports 20 these countries are several
million dollars in excess Of the imports,
and any interference with these exports
would work a serious commercial injury
20 Norway. Norway, ~ present. cnioys
the emost favored nation" clause in her
commercial treaties with France. IL
France feels that her wine exports 10
Norway are being restricted, she may,
according 20 the tariff declaration al
ready mentioned. take any steps the
circumstances dictate" including the
raising Of harbor dues for Norwegian
ships IN Freneh harbors, which VIII
make Il difficult for Norway % compete
With other nations France ~ present
takes half of all the vood pulp and eel
lulose produced IN Norway. and Portugal
and spain each take 20 pr cent. of Nor
way's split cod. tIl
Tllose opposed n prgihitti0n use these
arguments 81 show that . small couutry
Ike Norway. vhich is IN - many ways
dependent IN ether countries. eanm5t,
uithauf iniurine profitable trads and
disturbing Der fnsneisl standing. adopt
- strict = degree of rrdhihitiou as has
been urred All parties however. are
serrsa that there should be = ririd cun-
trni a the sais of si1ohrlie beverages
nrs that their rrnsunipfign should he
ra1laesd - iirlf Vines ard hesr
IL - also nrrsed thst NarwaFs lanE
rnnsf iine and fbpussnds - protected
Fia-Es void make e Impossible - Tre-
spYs uhoissnis Smuggling. q i alsa
common IN Nurunv o. make vfns -spnss
~ Il eautHining hiEt psr tnnt- e alss-
- -.eff "a hiuet-rfies. rurrHf.ts and sf-
tlss. uhiah rsn - sald hT Fruurs vita
ssfs ssseiaf liefmse Dfaftrs n thH rrah3-
s.7fiaH rroersr stste tiat r unald -
sr,rut a. artise an8 srfarce q lsw -
r-erarf reatlls fru1n 6ssf ifiinf irTTr ufrs
era stFuurar airihnlir lrinks ir thsif
ear kseifens fur hrms uss