The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-09-05
Chancellor of the Legation Denies Oft
Repeated Tales His Country
Would Aid Germany

10 Jake care VI tlDSt utbN'''''e ~
the men doing military duty.
There are a few in Sweden who de-
mand war but there are those every
where. In this country even, so far
removed from the scene, n hears
and reads not so seldom OF individuals
who would like to fight. hut In
Sweden as elsewhere the majority
count and the majority over there
pray that the country may he
from ENHANCEMENT in the war; that
the sacrifices they are making to keep
neutral will result in continued peace
IL is true that Sweden has m
ported more from the United states
since the outbreak of the war than
ever before. But why not? Most
other markets are closed to her. or at
least partially closed. She depends on
foreign markets for many articles and
II she cannot obtain in n place what
she needs Is il unnatural that h
turns to another? To judge whether
Sweden's import on the whole has in
creased one must look at her import
statistics, not the American export
figures. The Swedish import statistics
show on the whole no increase. So
ldI H. par VII w iANN
there Is small variation, in some in
stances we have imported a little
more. in others a little less this year
than last. our import from America
has been large. while that from the
European countries has fallen off
enormously.
Great ado has been made over that
the Swedish army Is on war foot
ing" II has been said that the army
has been mObilizing ever since the
beginning of August; that 1t is being
concentrated along the Muscovite bor-
der line; that Stockholm is making
other warlike preparations aimed
against Russia and that Russia cam
not but consider these moves as I'M
friendly, even a downright menace,
calling for quick and vigorous re-
Spouse.
The army * prepared for eventuali-
ties; but what European neutral coun-
try's army is not? II would be Crimi-
nal negligence to not be prepared for
the worst. even though II Is hoped that
the worst may never come. So far as
the mobilization of the army is con-
cerned 1t has been partially modified
ever since the war broke out, more
than "A year ago. The armies of the
other European neutrals too were par
TALLY modified then. The Swedish
army is at this writing modified only
to the same extent as IL has been all
along. 1t is not massed against the
Russian border any more than 1t is
concentrated in other directions. and
wherever il is placed 1t is for defence
and not aggression. II it were true
that the Swedish moves were aimed
against Russia that country would
have p~rovocation: but IL is not, and
nobody knows that any better than
does Russia. one has but to read a
Russian paper like the NOrOjo IrCmja
to find out what the Russians think OF
the Swedish policy. So far as the
! writer has been abe to find the Rus
sian papers are the only papers of
the warning nations that have actually
commended the Swedish policy. that
have actually granted that the Swed-
ish Government is doing all in its
power to maintain strict neutrality.
Not ;onG ago the Russian Minister
for Foreign An iirS, NJ. SaZonow. in an
address in the Russian Parliament eN-
pressed his entire satisfaction with
Swedcn's neutral politics. That the
Russians themselves are no, only
satisfied but pleased with the Swedish
position ought to lac the best possible
proof that the position is fair.
The idea that Sweden has a lurking
hate for Russia and is both secretly
Z anil nr..p'N spnnittnu q, yEt IInInn nd
back Is wrong For n generation there
has been no hate for Russia To speak
of. There might he suspicion in In
dividual cases, but ms for general
hate. there is mono Sweden has nj
designs on Finland. Sweden does not
want Finland back. There is a kindlN
feeling for the Films on the part OF
the Swcdcs, The long comradeshil
could hardly leave anything else. Tit
Finnish culture is largely swedish anC
In consequence there is strong sympa'
thy between h peoples, But N spit,
Of al this Swdcn does not wan Fin
land back and Sweden has no deSirl
To NEEDLE with Russia's policy IN Fin
land. No one realizes better than doe
Sweden that if Finland We're restore,
~ "'N''N' ~ " - ~ -
story, war. war. war. and as has al
ready been pointed the Swede
want peace, not war, and they do no
want anything that will bring war or
From time To time II has been init
; mated that the Swedish King issue
the neutrality proclamation aGains
bis own wishes ana only becaus
great pressure was brought to bear o
him. This is without foundation. TIL
King and The people are OF one minC
Both wish and endeavor to keep neti
trail. The fact that King Gusta
called the meeting Of the three Scan
dinarian rulers in Malmo ought I
prove to those who doubt that he
earnestly trying to keep his countr
at peace. No n ear with any rea
son advance the theory that he wa
forced to invite the other two ruler
to come to Sweden and discuss wit
him the course to he followed. II
called this meeting for the purpose c
discussing the means open to IN
three countries for maintaining neu
trality and for discussing means I
has necessarily brought into III
economic life of them all.
No alliance was formed, nor was
even proposed, In spite of this 1t ha
been pointed out that when Swede
, enters the var on Gcrmany's sid
there will be further proof tina
treaties are merely scraps Of paper
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