Bisbee daily review. [volume] (Bisbee, Ariz.) 1901-1971, 1915-09-23
SWEDEN WILL REFUSE
ENGLAND'S DEMANDS
ON NEUTRAL GROUNDS
To Cease Her Commerce in Sup
plies to Germany Would Be
Surrender of Claim to Free
dom of Seas.

STOCKHOLM, Sweden, Sept a.
If Sweden and England come to sat
isfactory understanding regarding
Swedish imports and the transit Of
supplies to Germany, this understand
ing viii not be reached through any
Swedish concession or alteration OF
her demands to be treated as neu-
trail nation enjoying the freedom OF
the seas. according to the statement
made today to the Associated Press
by Eric de Trolle, President of the
Royal Trade Commission, former
minister of foreign anairs and at
present member of the English-Swed-
ish commission engaged in attempting
to settle the trade dispute
Sweden cannot and will not sur
render to Englash demands restrict
ing her commerce" said de Trolle,
in order to help England in her in
dustrial war against Germany. If she
did this not only would sweden suf-
fer 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.
"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 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 mod
est desire is to be allowed to carry
on her normal industry and TO OBJ
serve strict neutrality means
helping neither side in a military or
industrial way to the exclusion Of the
other In this point of view she diff
ers with the United states which is
supplying England alone. Sweden
does not consider this a real neutrali-
.ty. Her position. from which she will
not recede, is an absolutely neutral
attitude toward all combatants.
1T 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
Russia ia forced to wait for her sup
plies which have accumulated here
4 but while our ships are being held in
English prize courts, we think the
action entirely justihable.
IF it were only a commercial Ques-
. ton, Sweden might find it possible to
Yield to England's demands, but since
&, is primarily a political question Of
not allying ourselves with either side,
( we cannot yield We are, however,
not hopeless regarding the solution Of
our dispute with England Sweden is
not unconscious of the English view
point or the necessity which cOmpels
ler TO adopt her present attitude re-
aarding the shipping of materials to
Germany. She wishes to restrict our
imports as much as possible Both
our members and the English mem
bers OF the commission have recently
made proposals which may lead to a
satisfactory adjustment OF the ques-
ton of restricting our imports.
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 prohib-
tory list-although England may
think that the export is excessive
but / may say without violating the
secrecy of the negotiations which are
still under way, that the chief obsta-
which we are bound to make to our
Iprohibitory export list in the way of
special licenses granted to Germany
In order TO get supplies which are alb.
solutely necessary to u.s. we must
give in exchange to Germany some OF
the articles on our forbidden list. It
troubles the English because we can.
not produce statistics showing the ex
act amount and character of goods
shipped to Germany under these con
ditions. The publication Of such fig
ures would lead to obvious Difficult
ties
r Moreover we cannot guarantee as
England would like to have as do
that supplies win not under any cir
cumstances be sent into Germany
4 Not only would we suffer from moi
? being able to get what we need from
Germany but we would then be partl
q san to England
AS to the assertion that our i'm
ports have increased beyond our OWL
capacity for consumption since IN,
beginning of the war. this is not gen
a orally true. Our poor harvest an,
\ our inability to get grain from Russi,
and other supplies from Germany. ha.
Of course, increased our exports from
q other countries. But even If our ey
l. ports have increased we do not recop
nize England's rights to interfere witt
our commerce.
Most of Sweden's exports to Gel
- many are not articles directly cor
o. nected with military affairs Englan
cannot ask us TO cut down our mea
z, exports 10 Germany for that is on
n of our chief industries The kind q
(, copper and the thin hides whic
Sweden sends TO Germany are NOT ,
valuable for military purposes. Ma
can there be any criticism of our tin