New Britain herald., 1915-09-24

prolongation of the war find transit through Sweden to Germany. They contend that a conspicuous increase in Swedish imports beyond her own needs is evidence that these supplies lind a way to Germany and that a great many of them are articles which Germany particularly needs, notably meat, coffee, cocoa, copper and lu brlcants of various sorts. Being as- Sured that these are destined for Germany, England claims the right to place such cargoes in the prize courts and is enforcing this right.
 It is admitted that these cargoes are vouched for by Swedish merchants as havlng Swedish consignees as tne1r ultimate destination but it is claimed that through intermediate steps in sweden they find their way finally in- to sweden. It is also stated by the English members of the commission that the collision of Swedish shippers with Germany has led to the deliber- ate surrender of ships and cargoes to German vessels and that their capture was part of prearranged plan. Eng lish commissioners admit the right of sweden to continue the export of her own products to Germany and to im-
 
 may be reasonably supposed is for Swedish consumption, but argues that this amount should not exceed her normal imports. Calling attention to her increase in imports, the English commissioners ask Sweden to guar antee that supplies except for home manufactures will not be sent to Germany or in other words that there shall be no transit of supplies through Sweden to Germany.
 Rigid Export Laws.
 The Swedish members of the com mission reply that her export laws gre ,rigidly enforced by the govern ment prohibiting the sending of ar ticles to Germany and that exceptions l are only made to this prohibitory list | when she is forced into an exchange | of supplies with Germany by a short | age of necessary articles in her country, caused in many cases by | England's restriction of her imports. There are some articles such as ani- line dyes, medical goods and certain kinds of machinery which Sweden can obtain from Germany and in order to get these necessary supplies l she must extend to Germany special l licenses contrary to her prohibitory re Eulations. But it is contended that th ese supplies which Germany obtains | under these conditions are almost negligible. Swedish commissioners claim that she is justified in refusing to guarantee the stoppage of all 1 transit to Germany, because as an in- dependent nation, she has right to trade with one country as we'll as
 
 to hold up her imports, she will refuse to transit supplies to Russia. l.
 The issue which has caused a dead lock is the quantity of supplies sent to Germany under the special licenses contrary to Sweden's list of forbidden exports. The English members of the commission have called for exact figures showing the export to Ger many, but such statistics it is claimed l by the Swedish government are not available The English and Swedish members of the commission also dis r dgree as to the usefulness to Germany for military purposes of such articles IS copper which are on Sweden's free list. The English argue that whether the copper is one kind or an ,ther, it can be converted into copper or military use in Germany and that arge quantities of copper oil and cot .on have found transit into Germany.
 Some Statistics Misleading.
 Although some. of the selected sta .istics available in Sweden are mis- eading, they support the English contention that Swedish imports of he articles mentioned have in some cases been trebled since the begin ming of the war; The declaration of cotton as contraband has of course | articles from the discus sion. t
 From investigations made by an impartial observer in Sweden, it is clear that although greatly decreased