Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1915-10-21

Il
| cabinet himself, In which he was pre-
| mier and minister OF Justice. In 1911
he was again asked by the king to
form cabinet and continued as pre-.
mier till February. 1914, when he re-
signed because OF differences with
King Gnstaf az to his majesty's right
to deliver speeches of political ma
ture without first consulting his cab
met ministers as to the subject mat.
ter. This crisis came at the time OF
the big demonstrations I'm Stockholm
In favor OF strengthening Sweden's
defcnses. 10000 peasants ,sarching to
the capital to demand that the army
and navy be increased Ti;s king was
In sympathy with this movement and
when the peasants appeared before
his palace, delivered a rousing speech
along the line. Former Premier staaf
was man Of middle age. He was the
leader OF the military party and a poll
tician Of great skill In some respects.
Had he lived he would probably have
come into power again with the
triumph of his party.
The controversy between Sweden
and England over England's attempts
to limit Swedish imports lis getting
more and more bitter and has tend
ency TO strengthen the sympathy OF
the Swedish people for Germany. The
contention OF England Is that Sweden
has been importing goods from abroad
and reshipping them to Germany. As
proof OF this II points to the large in
crease In Swaden's imports since the
war opened; but Sweden replies that
this increase Ii from neutral countries
only. In former years Sweden has
bought heavily In Germany; now she
can get no more there, except few
things In exchange for Swedish prod.
ucts. and hence has to buy more from
neutral countries. by way OF retalia-
ton against England for attempting
to restrict Swedish imports, Sweden
has begun stopping shipments for
Russia through Sweden. something
like $30,000,000 worth OF goods being
thus tied up. For two months Brit
iRh.Swedish commission has been try.
ing to adjust the difficulties between
the two countries. but the problem IL
an extremely difficult one and some
time ago an adjournment was taken.
The fact that the commission has re-
suriad Its meetings indicates that Eng
land feels the need OF pacifying Swe-
den In order that Russia may again got
supplies through that country. There
are those who believe that a COM
proinise will be effected, but recent
correspondence from Stockholm to
the Associated Press do not bear out
this assumption. The correspondent
says the English commissioners per-
sist In their contentious that Sweden
is reshippng goods to Germany. The
issue which has caused complete
deadlock Is the quantity of supplies
sent to Germany under the special
licenses contrary to Sweden's list OF
forbidden exports The English mem.
bers OF the commission have called
for exact figures showing the export
To Germany. but such statistics. II Is
claimed by the Swedish government.
are not available, The English and
Swedish members of the commission
also disagree as to tho usefulness to
Germany for military purposes OF such
articles as copper. which are on Swe-
den's free list. The English argue that
whether the copper Is one kind or
another. It can be converted into cop
per for military use In Germany and
and cotton have found transit into
Germany. Although aome OF the So
lected statistics available In Sweden
are misleading, they support the Eng
lish contention that Swedish imports
OF the articles mentioned have In
some cases been trebled since the be-
ginning OF the war, The declaration
OF cotton az contraband has, OF course.
eliminated articles from the discussion.
From Investigations made by an i'm
partial observer In Sweden, II In clear
thai, although greatly decreased by
England's supervision, the transit Of
considerable supplies to Germany still
continues. After arriving and being
vouched for by Swedish ccnsignees,
these supplies often pass through az
many as q dozen hands before their
shipment to Germany. Many Swedish
merchants have frankly stated that
when they could not only command
better prices. but servs their own In.
clinations by shipping to Germany,
they found no reason for not doing so,
Stockholm hotels are full OF German
agents. who confess secretly that they
are satisfied with the way business Is
going. Since no figures are available,
any estimate OF the quantity OF sup
plies going to Germany IL merely
speculative, but II may safely be said
that enough Is going to Germany to
be material factor IN her economic
condition.
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