Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1915-10-27
SWEDEN.

The English-Swedish commission.
which has for two months been striv-
ing to adjust the trade differences be-
tween the two countries, is no nearer
satisfactory solution of the dispute
than at the beginning of its session.
Meanwhile, over $25.000.O00 worth OF
supplies for Russia, which she urgent
ly needs. have accumulated in Swed i
owing to this country's refusal 10 al
low the transit of goods to Fussia I'M
til England has modified her demands
regulating the amount of Swedens
imports.
The English members of the COM
mission argue that a large amount
OF supplies, many of which are direct
ly connected with the maintenance of
an army and the prolongation OF the
war, find trarsit through Sweden to
Germany. They contend that con-
spicuous increase in Swedish imports
beyond her own needs is evidence that
these supplies find a way to Germany
and that great many of them are ar
ticles which Germany particularly
needs, notably meat, coffee. cocoa. cot
ton, copper and lubricants of vari-
Gus sorts. Being assured that these
are destined for Germany, England
claims the right to place such car
goes in the prize courts and is enforc-
ing this right
The Swedish members of the COM
mission reply that her export laws
which are rigidly enforced by the gov
eminent. prohibit the sending of most
articles to Germany and that excep-
tons are only made to this prohibit
! tory list when she is forced into an
exchange of supplies with Germany by
shortage of necessary articles in her
country, caused in many cases by
Englands restriction of her imports.
There are some articles such as ami
line dyes, medical goods and certain
kinds Of machinery which Sweden can
obtain from Germany and in order to
| get these necessary supplies she must
extend to Germany special licenses
contrary to her prohibitory regula-
tons. But it is contended that these
supplies which Germany obtained I'M
der these conditions are almost negli-
| gible. Swedish commissioners claim
she is justified in refusing to guar
antee the stoppage of transit to Ger
many, because as an independent ma
ton she has a right to trade with
one country as well as another, and
that If England sees fit to hold up
! her imports, she will refuse to trans
NIT supplies to Russia.
The issue which has caused a dead
lock is the quantity of supplies sent to
Germany under the special license
contrary to Swedens list of forbidden
exports The English members of the
commission have called for exact fig
ures show the export TO Germany, but
such statistics, it is claimed by the
| Swedish government. are not avail
able. The English and Swedish men,
bers of the commission also disagree
as to the usefulness to Germany for
military purposes of such articles as
copper, which are on Sweden's free
| list. The English argue that whether
the copper is one kind or another, it
tary use in Germany, and that large
quantities of copper, oil and cotton
have found transit into Germany.
Admiral Lindman, former Swedish
premier and present leader of the con-
sentative party, denied that Sweden
was prepared to make concessions in
her trade dispute with England.
1T is unfortunate" said Admiral
Lindman, that no league of neutral
powers was formed at the beginning
of the war to safeguard the rights
and privileges of the neutral nations,
but since that was not done, it is now
the duty of Sweden to defend these
rights. One of these rights is her
commerce with another neutral ma
ton like the United States. In her
dispute with England, Sweden is up
holding this sovereign right and she
will continue to uphold it.
"Englands exaction is equivalent to
forcing us into partnership with
her, for we regard it one of the re-
quirements of neutrality to treat both
sides impartiaiIy in regard to the
transit of materials. Now that Eng
land has made it impossible for US
to send goods IN Germany. our only
way of correcting this is to refuse to
permit transit of supplies to Russia
and England"
There is only one combination of
circumstances which is likely to draw
Sweden into the war. in the opinion of
Hjalmar Branting, leader of the So
cialist party of Sweden, and generally
admitted to be the most likely candi-
date for premier at the next election.
IF the English-Swedish trade nego-
tiations fall through" said Mr.. Brant-
ing, "and at the same time trouble
with Russia should arise in Finland,
the situation produced by these two
misfortunes would be an alarming one
1t would then be impossible to re-
strain the pro-German element of this
country from rushing into war. This
element is numerically small, but it
is powerful beyond its numbers. We
Al.