The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1915-09-22
SWEDEN REFUSES TO HELP
 ENGLAND IN INDUSTRIAL WAR \ SHE PLANS AGAINST GERMANY
Demands Neutrality of the Seas Be Preserved and Ships in English Prize Courts Be Released.

eSOC4 Go DO 4OO4VC10OOs
 Stockholm. Sweden. Sept. 2S-If Sweden and England come to a sat- isfactory understanding regarding re- garddng Swedish imports and the transit of supplies to Germany, this understanding will not be reached through and Swedish concession or alteration of her demands to be treat ed as a neutral nation enjoying the freedom of the seas. according to the statement made today to the Asso- ciated Press by Trio de Trolle, pres ddent of the Royal Trade Commission. mormer Minister of Foreign Affairs, and at present member of the English Swedish commission engaged in at tempting to settle the trade dispute.
 Sweden cannot and will not sur render to English demands restrict ing her commerce. said de Trolle, lin order to help England in her in dustrial war against Germany. If she did this, not only would Sweden suffer industrially herself, but she would become virtually an ally of England. The last consideration is the more important since Sweden would no longer be a, strictly neutral nation.
 sIf she permits the transit of sup plies between England and Russia and joins in any attempt to prevent the transit Nof supplies to Germany supplies for the allies and is at the she is becoming an important base of supplies for the allies and is at the same time really entering into the war against Germany. Sweden's S modest desire is to be allowed to carry on her normal industry and to observe a. strict neutralty-which h means helping neither side in a mill itary or industrial way, to the Ax- clusion of the other. In the point 9f view she differs with the United States, which is supplying England alone. Sweden does not. consider this a real neutrality. Her position. from which she will not recede is an ab- soluteIy neutral attitude toward all combatants-
 '.It is logical therefore that we should hold up supplies destined for Russia while England,s stoppage of our imports of raw, materials inter feres with our industry and trade with Germany. We are sorry that plies which alave accumulated here but while our ships are being held in English prize courts, we think the action entirely justifiable.
 eff it, were only a commercial question, Sweden might find it possi- 4bIe to yield to England,s demands, but since it is primarily a political uuestipn of not aIlying ourselves with either side, we cannot yield. We are, howeveFs not hopeless regarding the solution aofs ot1f dispute with Eng land. Sweden is not unconscious Of the English viewpoint or the necessity which compels her to adopt aer pres ent attitude regarding the shipping of materials. to Germany. She wishes to restrict our imports as much as possible. Both our members and the English members of the Commission have recently made proposals which may lead to a satisfactory adjustment of the question of restricting our inn ports.
 There is no quarrel about the ex- port to Germany Of our own home manufactures or of the articles which are not placed on the Swedish pro- htbitory although England may think that the export is excessive. But recey of the negotiations which are still under way that the chief oTb- stacle is the question of the excep- tions which we are bound to make to our prohibitory export list in the way of special licenses granted to Germany. In order, to get supplies which are absolutely necessary to us, we must give in exchange to Germany some of the articles on our forbidden dist. It troubles the English because we cannot produce statistics. showing fhe exact amount and character o1 goods shipped to Germany under these conditions. The publication o1 such figures would lead to obvious difficulties.
 
 England would like to have us do that supp1is wiell not under any con ditions. be sent Into Germany No only would we suffer from not being able to get what we need from Ger manay, but we would then be partisan to England.
 "As to- the assertion that our i'm ports have increased beyond our owr capacity for consumptions since the beginning Of the war; this is not gen orally true. Our poor harvest and oul Inability to get grain from Russia and other supplies from Germany has. so1 course increased our exports from other countries. But even if our ex- ports have increased we do not recog nize England's rights to interfere witF our commerce.
 Most of Sweden's exports to Ger many are not articles directly con pected with military affairs. Esngian6 cannot ask us to cut down our mea1 exports to. Germany, for that is one of our chief industries. The kind soi copper and the thin hides which Swe- den sends to Germany are not avail able for military purposes. Nor car there be any criticism of our timber and wood pulp exports to Germany All these are the products of home in. dustry, and most of the things whicT we send to Germany are for the ci william rather than the soldier"
 When the attention of MT. TrolI' was called to the fact that no sup plies destined for Germany were ar irving. in Sweden and that therefcrt the question of allowing equal privil eges Of transit for supplies for Russis k4-1r those for Germany could hard1, arise. he replied that that did not al ter the ease since if it were not fol