Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1915-09-22
SWEDEN STANDS PAT
FOR UNRESTRICTED
RIGHTS UPON SEAS

| Correspondence of Associated Pressl
Stockholm. Sweden, Aug 26.-If
Sweden and England come to salts
factory understanding regarding Swed-
ish imports and the transit of supplies
to Germany, this understanding VIII not
be reached thru any Swedish conces-
sion or alteration of her demands to
be treated as neutral nation enjoying
the freedom OF the seas, according to
the statement made today to The As
ISOLATED Press by Eric de Trolle. pres
ident of the Royal Trade Commission,
former minister of foreign affairs, and
Mt present member of the. English
Swedish commission engaged in at
tempting TO settle the trade dispute.
Sweden can not and will not sur
render to English demands restricting
! her commerce" said de Trolle. in order
to help England in her industrial war
/ against GERMANY. If she did this, not
only would Sweden suffer industrialiy
herself. but she would become virtually
an ally of England The last considera-
ton is the more important since
Sweden would no longer be strictly
neutral nation.
I If she permits the transit of sup
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 modest desire is
to be allowed TO carry on her normal
industry and to observe a strict neu-
trality-which means helping neither
side In military or industrial way. to
the exclusion of the other. In this
point of 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 ahso-
1utelv neutral attitude toward all com
batants.
IT is logical therefore that we should
hold up supplies destined for Russia
while England's stoppage Of our i'm
ports Of raw materials interferes with
our industry and trade with Germany
We are sorry that Russia is forced to
wait for her supplies which have ac-
cumulated here but while our ships
are being held in English prize courts,
we think the action entirely justi-
fable.
IF It were only a commercial ques-
ton, Sweden might find 1t possible to
yield to Englands demands, but since
it is primarily a political question OF
mot allying ourselves with either side
we can not yield We are however
not hopeless regarding the solution OF
our dispute with England. Sweden Is
not unconscious of the English view
point of the necessity which compels
her to adopt her present attitude re-
garding the shipping of materials to
Germany. She wishes to restrict ouI
imports as much as possible Both
our members and the English members
Of the commission have recently made
proposals which may lead to salts
factory adjustment Of the question oil
restricting our imports.
There is no quarrel about the ex.
port to Germany of our home manu-
features or Of the articles which are
not placed on the Swedish prohibitory
list-altho England may think that the
export Is excessive. But may sax
without violating the secrecy Of tn,
negotiations which are still under wa,
that the chief obstacle Is the sues..o.
OF the exceptions which we are bound
to make to our prohibitory export lis
( in the way OIL special iiiiceHssscass S-..e.
to Germany. In order to get supplies
which are absolutely necessary to us
we must give in exchange to German,
some Of the articles on our forbidden
list. 1t troubles the English becaus
we can not produce, statistics shown,
the exact amount and charter of good
ishipped to Germany under these con