Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1915-03-10
OF INTEREST TO
SCAND|NAV|ANS
News Gathered in the Father
land and Elsewhere.
FOR NOTE TO GREAT BRITAIN
Swedish Chamber Of Commerce Of
New York Sends Letter Of Thanks
to President Wilson.
FOR NOTE TO GREAT BRITAIN
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SWEDEN, !.

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The Swedish Chamber of Commerce
In New York, through it's acting presi-
dent, Mr.. John Aspengren, on Jan. 16
addressed letter to President Will
son, thanking him for his note to
Great Britain and at the same time ex-
planning the conditions that have
given rise to British accusations
against Sweden as a channel for Ger
man supplies. The letter states that
before the war there was only one di.
rect steamship connection, the Swed.
ish-Mexico line, which made infre-
quent sailings. Consequently Ameri.
can goods intended for Sweden were
to great extent shipped to Hamburg
or Hull and these goods were entered
on the list of exports to Germany or
to England instead of the country of
their ultimate destination. After the
war such transshipments have become
difficult and the Swedes have been
obliged to find means of getting their
goods directly from America, with the
natural result of swelling the list OF
exports of American goods to Sweden.
The letter also calls attention to the
fact that the Scandinavian countries
before the war received many supplies
from Germany and Russia, while they
are now obliged to import the same
goods from the United States. AS the
best proof that no re-export to Ger
many takes place Mr.. Aspengren
points to the indefinite stoppage of
the steamship line between Malmo
and Hamburg for lack of freight. The
Swedish Chamber of Commerce is to
be congratulated for doing its share
toward killing this rumor, says the
American Scandinavian Review,
which seems to have as many heads
as the hydra. The declaration of the
British government that American ex-
port trade to Scandinavia had be-
come abnormal in volume has, natur-
ally. been the object Of much COM
ment in the three Scandinavian coun-
tries. Statistics are quoted to prove
that although the export from America
to Scandinavia has increased, the to-
tai imports of Scandinavia has, on
the contrary, decreased somewhat
kammarherre Herluf Zahle, chief in
the foreign department of Denmark
in a newspaper interview mentioned
| numerous picturesque stories of Sc
cret export to Germany which had
been investigated and found to lack
all foundation. The embargo is en-
forced with great severity and it is
| very unlikely that many offenders
slip through the hands of the govern
| ment inspectors.
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| The mine-strewn waters of the
| British channel and the North sea
continue to take their heavy toll OF
neutral vessels, often with great loss
of life. Another list of casualties
comes from the coast of Finland
where the Germans have recently
laid mines with a view of closing the
outlet for Russian trade in the Baltic
at the same time as the outlet al
Archangel is blocked by ice. NJ
warning was given, although 1t was
we'll known that neutral vessels were
plying in the very track of the mine:
and before the danger could be dis
covered three Swedish ships were
blown up and between thirty and for
ty men killed. Swedish papers ar,
very bitter in their comments. 1t il
pointed out that these very vessels
had been instrumental in bringing
German refugees to their homes afte
the outbreak of the war and tina
Sweden throughout has shown Ger
many nothing but loyal friendship.
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The direct steamship line between
Sweden and the United States, which
has been contemplated for some years
was organized at a meeting of stock
holders in Gothenburg Nov. 30, a
which Consul C. A. Kjollberg presid
ed, and the first sailing will possibl.
take place this coming summer.
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NORWAY. .