New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-09-25
Intends To Be Neutral and
Continue to Hold Up
Goods for Russia.
CONSIDERS u. S.
IS NOT NEUTRAL
President of Trade Commission
Says America Is Supplying
England Alone.


Stockholm, Sweden, Sept. l2.-If
Sweden and England come 70 a salts
factory understanding regarding Swed-
ish imports and the transit Of supplies
to Germany this understanding will not
be reached through any Swedish con-
cession or alteration of her demands TO
be treated as a neutral nation enjoying
the freedom OF the seas, according to
the statement made to-day to The As
ISOLATED Press by Eric de Trolle, presi-
dent of the Royal Trade Commission,
ex-Minister of Foreign Affairs and at
present member of the English-Swed-
ish commission engaged in attempting
to settle the trade dispute.
Sweden can not and will not sur
render to English demands restricting
her commerce." said de Trolle, "in or
der to help England in her industrial
war against Germany II she did this
not only would Sweden suffer indus.
trially herself, but she would become
virtually an ally of England. The las,
consideration IL the more important
since Sweden would no longer be q
strictly neutral nation.
"If she permits the transit of sup
plies between England and Russia and
joins in any attempt TO prevent the
transit Of supplies to Germany she l:
becoming an important base Of sup
plies for the Allies and is at the same
time really entering into the wal
against Germany. Sweden's modest de
sire is to be allowed to carry on hei
normal industry and to observe a strict
neutrality which means helping
neither side in a military or industrial
way, to the exclusion Of the other Ir
this point of view she differs with the
United States, which is supplying Eng
land alone. Sweden does not consider
this a real neutrality. Her position
from which she will not recede. is an
absolutely neutral attitude toward al
combatants.
at is logical, therefore. that we
should hold up supplies destined fol
Russia while England's stoppage OF
our imports Of raw materials interferes
with our industry and trade with Ger
many. We are sorry that Russia IL
forced to wait for her supplies which
/ have accumulated here, but, while oul
/ ships are being held in English prize
courts, we think the action entirely
! justifable.
Sweden is not unconscious OF the
English viewpoint or the necessit!
which compels her to adopt her pres
ent attitude regarding the shipping o.
materials to Germany. She wishes u
restrict our imports as much as pos
sible. Both our members and the Eng
lish members Of the commission hav
recently made proposals which ma,
lead to a satisfactory adjustment of tn
question of restricting our imports.
"The chief obstacle is the question o
the exceptions which we are bound q
make to our prohibitory export list il
the way of special licenses granted Il
Germany. In order to get supple:
which are absolutely necessary to u:
We must give in exchange to Germany
| some of the articles on our forbidden
| list. 1t troubles the English because
we cannot produce statistics showing
| the exact amount and character OF
goods shipped to Germany under these
conditions.
"As to the assertion that our i'm
ports have increased beyond our own
capacity for consumption since the be-
ginning of the war, this is not gener-
ally true"