Omaha daily bee., 1915-09-25
SWEDEN STANDS FOR RIGHT
Country Does Not Propose to Put
Itself in a Position to Be Drawn
Into the European War.
STAND TAKEN FULLY STATED

acorrespondenoe OF the Associated Press.)
STOCKHOLM, Sweden, Sept. i6-lf
Sweden and England come TO a satisfac-
tory understanding regarding swedish
importa and the transit Of supplies 10
Germany, this understanding will not DC
reached through any Swedish concession
or alteration Of its demands to be treated
az q neutral nation enjoying the freedom
OF the seas. according TO the statement
made today 10 the Associated Press by
nsio de TroIe, president OF the Royal
Trade commission. former minister or
foreign affairs. and at present member
Of the English-Swedish commission en-
gaged IN attempting 20 settle the trade
dispute.
Sweden cannot and will not surrender
90 English demands restricting its conn
Enarce," said De Troilo, ''in order TO help
England In It's Industrial war against
Germany. II II did thiR. not only would
Sweden suffer industrially itself, but II
would become virtually an ally OF Eng
hand. The last consideration IL the most
important, since Sweden would no longer
b q ssictuly neutral nation.
Means War Against Germany.
u VtIInMI1 NNt0 Nfa4AAAh VI HNkfH@'
between England and Russia and Joins
a any attempt TO prevent the transit of
supplies to Germany, II is becoming an
important base Of supplies for the allies
ana "a at the same time really entering
into the war against Germany. Sweden's
modest desire Is 70 be allowed 10 carry
Oh its normal industry and TO observe a
strict neutrality-which means helping
A.. NV4flI AL
way. to the exclusion OF the other. In
this point OF view II differs with the
United States which Is supplying Eng
land alone. Sweden does not consider this
q real neutrality. It's position. from
which II viii not recede IL an absolutely
neutral attitude toward all combatants.
1T IL logical therefore that we should
hold up supplies destined for Russia
Wills Bngiand's stoppage OF our imports
Of raw materials interferes with our In
dustry and trade with Germany. We are
sorry that Russia II foced TO walt for
its supplies which have accumulated here.
but while our ships are being held in
EnaisSh prise courts. we think the ac-
tion justifiabie.
A Commercial Question.
IF Il were only commercial dues-
Sion. Sweden might find II possible TO
yield TO Engiand's demands, but since It
Is primarily a political question Of not
ailyinG ourselves with either aide, we
cannot yield. We are, however, not
hopeless regarding the solution OF our
dispute with England. Sweden Ia not
unconscious OF the English viewpoint OF
the necessity which compels Il 20 adopt
its present attitude regarding the ship
ping Of materials TO Germany. 1t wishes
10 restrict our imports as much as possi-
Bile. Both our members and the English
members OF the commission have re-
Gently made proposals. which may lead
20 q satisfactory adjustment of the CUES
iion o restricting our importa
"Thero Is no quarrel about the export
TO Germany OF our own home manufac-
lures or of the articles which are not
placed on the Swedish prchibitory list
although Ensiand may think that the
export il excessive. But / may say
without violating tho secrecy OF tho ne
Eotiations which are still under way that
the chief obstacle IL the question OF the
exceptions which we are bound TO make
20 our prohsbitory export list In the way
OF special licenses granted TO Germany.
In order 70 get supplies which are abso-
iutely necessary to us. we must give IN
exchange 20 Germany some OF the arti-
oies on our forbidden list. II troubles
The EnRlish because We cannot produce
stasistics showing the exact amount and
oharaotar Of goods shipped TO Germany
under these conditions The publication
Of such figures would lsadSto obvious
difficulties.
Unable 60 Get Grain.
Moreover, we cannot guarantee. as
England would like to have US do, that
supplies will not under any conditions
be sent into Germany. Not only would
we suffer from not being able TO get
what We need from Germany, but we
would then be partisan to England.
las to the assertion that our imports
have increased beyond our own capacity
for consumption since the beginning Of
the war, this IL not generally true. Our
poorest harvest and our inability TO
get grain from Russia and other aup-
plies from Germany has. Of course, In
creased our exports from other coun-
tries But even II our exports have In.
creased we do not recognise England
rights 10 interfere with out commerce.
Most OF sweden's exports to Germany
are not articles directly connected with
military affairs. England cannot ask US
20 cut down our meat exports TO Ger
many. for this IL one OF our chief In
dustries. The kind . copper ana the
, thin hides which Sweden sends 20 Ger
many are not available for military pur-
poses. Nor can there be any criticism
Of our timber and wood pulp exports
70 Germany. All these are the products
Of home industry, and most OF the things
watch We send 10 Germany arc for the
civilian rather than the soldier"
When the attention Of Mr.. Troiie was
called to the fact that no supplies
destined for Germany were arriving In
Sweden and that therefore, the question
Of allowing equal privileges OF transit
for supplies for Russia and those fol
Germany could hardly arise. he replieS
that that did not alter the case. since
n Il were not for Iengiand's interferencs
with ne commerce supplies would find
natural transit through Sweden into
Germany.