Evening star., 1915-01-10
A NEUTRAL SCANDINAVIAN UNION

ready to protest against o certain laen
OF nrmness at one time manifested By
the authorities in the matter OF ex-
Thus the press of Gothenburg criti-
clses with energy the liberty accorded
certain expectations Of cereals and for
age, menacing thereby the revictualinG
of the country itself. No swede, he
says having proper regard for the
duties and responsibilities of the state
can maintain silence
- And in support Of these protestations
the press indicated cites precise facts.
Thus a great mill has exported to Ger
many, notwithstanding the published
5000 sacks of rice. Anotheri
exporter. whose existence does not date
obtained the authorization to export
$3.50 sacks Of wheat imported into Swe-
den by the ship Mexicano. At the end
of October there arrived in the port of
Gothenburg the ship Hannah with
cargo Of several thousand tons or wheat
and forage, which was welcome because
the Swedish stock was not abundant.
The steamers Activ. Avance and still
others bound for foreign ports arriv-
ed seeking the greater part Of their
ferbaum arrived. The government au-
the re-expedition of 1000 tons
of the 5000 tons constituting her cargo.
At the same time the steamer Nord-
of her cargo of Oil cake to the ship
Transit for expectation.
Then, again, there is q steamer. the
anchored in the port freighted
with 10000 sacks Of wheat for the ac-
count OF the house Of Elof Hassan. the
exporting house whose creation coin
cides with the commencement OF the
war. part Of this cargo Is to be dis
charged into the Swedish ships F1am-
mer and Fernebo. converted into float
hut "a In
to the fact that the wheat
is not intended for Sweden. but for e1-
portation.
A correspondent from Stockholm tel
egraphs an account Of a great mani
festation for neutrality
Stockholm which had taken place
M..+;. there In the auditorium.
u6' NJ. Carleson, well
known journalist, spoke in favor OF
absolute neutrality. NJ. Lindhagen in
sisted that Sweden should work for
the creation of a federation of inde-
pendent states The vote of an order
Of the day in the above sense was pro-
hibited by the authorities and the
meeting closed with cries of ''vive neu-
trality."
The following note in the Berlin Eel
tung am Mittag Of December 16 is
cited as showing the interest which at
tached to the conference of the Scan
dinavian kings in certain circles in
Germany. The above named journal
declared that the conference would
prove to be one of the most important
political events which had happened
since the commencement of the war in
Europe-even II 1t should prove. as re-
ported. that the object of the confer
ence was of an economical character.
And the Berlin journal added:
'"The idea OF a confederation between
Denmark. Sweden and Norway. which
has been allowed to be neglected. will
come up again. perhaps under the i'm
pulse of events in the hour of danger.
Then it will have great chances of sue
cess"
At this writing we have received
some definite information as to the
kings not contained In the previous
dispatches. A dispatch from Copenha-
gen says that the official communica-
tion regarding the meeting at Malmoe,
turn of the three kings to their re-
spective capitals. is interesting less for
its declaration of the unity Of tho
Scandinavian countries In the pres
enCe OF SpeClal economic QuSSCtOn6
raised by the war. than for the an
nouncement that the representatives Of
the three states shall continue to meet
to discuss cooperative action whenever
the circumstances demand.
The meeting is certainly not to be
regarded as indicating any tendency
IN favor of either of the belligerent
groups. The Scandinavian attitude Is
more clearly affirmed than ever, and
It is especially comforting for Den
mark. ever conscious of her proxim-
'tv to Germany. to feel that she is as
sociated for the maintenance OF the
status quo with the other two states
which have already proclaimed fdentf-
cal neutrality. The picture OF soli-
Harity now presented is considered
likely to be more respected by the
hellieerents than might otherwise be
the case.
AS for the definite measures concern
ing trade. the only suggestion made by
the correspondent Is the predominating
dea among tradespeople of the revival
of the system of convoys similar to
that proposed by the Danish statesman,
Bernstorf. at the end Of the eighteenth
century.
the text of the comn1unioue issued
after the departure of the three SOW
ereigns Is as fol-
The Official lows: The meeting
Communique. archs ar a1s was sarsi inanen- men-
rated on December IS with a speech by
King Gustaf. who In alluding to the