The L'Anse sentinel., 1915-10-16
important Events In Sweden,
Norway and Denmark.
BRIEFS FROM OLD COUNTRY
lntsrsssIns Jtsms From ths Three
Great klnsdoms Of the North g.
Ieetsd for ecandInavIans and
Their Descendants.
BY MARTIN W. oDLAND.
Norway.

A Christiania correspondent Of the
Associated Press gives very. clear
idea Of conditions In Norway at the
present time with references to pro-
visions and hnance. He says that
something very close to q panic Ii
spreading over both Norway and Ewe-
den as result of the alarming scar
city of provisions and the unprece-
dented prices which are demanded for
the simplest kind Of food. Norway is
now on the point of following Swe-
den's lead in prohibiting the export Of
all provisions Of which there Is pres
ent shortage In order that prices may
be brought dowA within reach OF the
poorer classes.
The advance In prices In Norway is
approximately the same as In Sweden,
but In some cases It has been even
more marked. Herrings, which are one
Of the main articles Of diet among the
peasant population, have risen from 2
cents to Az and 5 cents apiece. and
the present price Of oatmeal is $50 per
cent higher than It was before the
war.
The meat shortage was temporarily
relieved some time ago. as 1t was in
Sweden, by the slaughter Of large
number Of cattle which there was not
enough grain to feed, but prices have
now advanced again, reaching the
highest level ever known in Norway.
It is curious paradox, however. that
as nation Norway's economic and
financial condition Is better than be-
fore the war. Norway's tremendous
exports. at tho same time that they
have drained the country OF its neces-
sary provisions for home consumption
and carried masses of the people to
the verge Of starvation, have brought
q tremendous amount Of money into
the country, enabled the country to
pay for all its imports and left large
surplus to be used for Industrial pur-
poses and public loan.
The bank Of Norway-the govern
ment's bank--had a year ago $40. 0.000.-
600 of gold in its vaults. Today 1t
has $40,000.000. A year ago It had is.
sued paper money to the extent of
$5.250.000 beyond its deposits. while
today with the same amount of paper
currency In circulation. It has a re-
serve. Of $3.s00.000.
Deposits In private banks are at
present $50. .O00. 900 greater than q year
ago on the same date. These banks
had to their credit in foreign banks
100000 last year. This year they
have $10.000.000. The war has thus
brought Norway q food tide of pros
perity. and II government action is
taken to reduce present prices and
provide the poorer people with food
Norway will have little to lose and a
great deal to gain from long war.
Norway's friendship for England
and the fact that she has had less to
complain Of in the restriction of i'm
ports than Sweden have made her
trade question q much less serious one
than IN her sister country. Her CHIEF
grievance against England remains
the English censorship Of her mail
and cablegrams 10 America and other
neutral countries. Norway is still try
ing to devise a more direct and speed.
Ter communication with America.
According 10 press dispatches.
Prime Minister Gunnar Knudsen has
withdrawn from the agricultural soci-
ETY. of Norway. Of which he was vice.
president. and this act has created a
sensation in political circles. His re-
tirement marks the eventful break be-
tween the prime minister and his ag-
ricultural constituents oveS the pro-
posed tariff on grains.
There has been . gradual estrange-
ment of the prime minister and the
Agricultural society on the subject Of
protection for the agricultural inter-
ests Of the country. Knudsen. al.
though himself an extensive owner OF
farm properties. 10 strong adherent
Of the Left party principle Of free
trade.
The direct cause Of the break was
The refusal Of the executive committee
Of the Agricultural society to take q
favorable stand on Knudsen's propos-
ii OF government monopoly in grains
a. . substitute for . tariR.
Last month direct commercial re-
lations were established between Nor
way and Greece for the first time.
when the Norwegian ship San Miguel
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