Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1915-02-17
OF INTEREST TO
SCAND|NAv|ANS
News Gathered in the Father.
land and Elsewhere.
SCANDINAVIA AND THE war
Position of Sweden, Norway and Den-
mark Plainly Set Forth by Writer
in Youths Companion.

j. !. j. + !. + !. !. + !. + ]. !. !. !. + +
i. SWEDEN. i.
j. j. !. !. + + !. j. \ j. j. !. j. j. !. j. i.
The geographical position Of the
Scandinavian countries makes their
attitude toward the present war a
matter of peculiar Importance, says
a writer in the Youths Companion.
Consult a map of Northern Europe
and see what help or what a him
drance to one or the other of the bel
ligerent forces Denmark, Sweden or
Norway might be. It is to their inter-
but it is hard for them to maintain
an unimpeachable neutrality. In the be-
lief that by making common cause they
might strengthen their position the
kings of the three countries came to-
gether the week before Christmas in
memorable meeting at Malmo,
strongly fortified seaport of Sweden
directly opposite the capital of Den
mark. King Gustaf of Sweden invit-
ed King Christian of Denmark and
King Haakon of Norway to meet him
there to consider matters of vital in
terest to the three kingdoms. I'm
doubtedly the people of Sweden, Nor
way and Denmark, like the people of
other neutral countries, are divided
in their sympathy, but there is no
way of ascertaining to which side the
majority in any one CT them lean. 1t
might be presumed that in Sweden the
fear Of Russian aggression would lead
the people to favor Germany. The
Danes, on the other hand, might fairly
be expected to dread German vic
tory as forecasting the loss of their
national existence. They do not for
get Schleswig-Holste and they
know how great a temptation to Ger
man enterprise is the Danish COM
mand of the passage from the North
sea to the Baltic by way of the Katie
gat. But however they may differ in
their sentiment toward the belliger-
ents the three countries have griev-
ances against both Great Britain and
Germany for interfering with their
trade and are united in the determine
ton to secure their rights if they can,
but in any event not to be drawn into
the war. They are resolved to lay no
foundation for hostility toward them
on the part of any of the powers when
the war shall have ended. The pur-
pose of the conference at Malmo was
to accomplish that result Each of
the three sovereigns was attended by
his foreign minister and a brilliant
suite. A great popular demonstration
greeted them when they met and
again when they parted. The meeting
itself was most cordial and it's action
harmonious. What was agreed upon
has not been made public, but the
three kings are evidently satisfied.
They have authorized an official state
ment that the cooperation is to con-
tinue. That assures united and, there
fore, probably effective action in the
present crisis, and establishes a basis
for future harmony between govern
ments that heretofore have shown
more of less suspicion and jealousy
of one another.
+ j. !.
Says the Springfield (Mass.) Repub-
lican: Certain Norwegian newspa-
pers suggest that the Nobel peace
prize, which appears to be going beg
ging, should be awarded to King Gus
tat of Sweden for his initiative In es-
tablishing the triple entente of the
Scandinavian kingdoms. The sugges-
ton itself ought to help cement this
desirable alliance and as Nobel him.
self was a Swede the award would at
least keep the cash in the family and
leave strict neutrality undisturbed."
i. !. !.
Three hundred Russian fugitives ar
About ninety of these found refuge at
the Workingmen's Institute in South
Stockholm and seventy were taken
charge of by the Salvation Army.
Nearly all of them are destitute and
have no means to return to their own
country and they will virtually be a
charge on Swedish benevolent socie-
Ties ana 1uSClCuL1OQS.
!. !.
In the Russian paper Novaje Vrem-
ia Swedish army officers in Persia are
openly accused of conducting a propa-
ganda for Germany and expressing
feeling Of enmity toward Russia. The
Swedish authorities are investigating
the charges and If they are found to
be true, Stockholm papers state, the
officers in question are liable to Sc
we're punishment.
!. !. !.
The government of Sweden has de.
cided to extend to March 1, 1915, the |
moratorium on obligations to all for
eign countries that are still maintain.
ing moratoriums on their obligations
to other countries. This moratorium
does not apply to Norwegian obliga-