The Washington herald., 1915-10-11
SWEDEN READY
WARBREAKS
Prepared for Blow at Russia,
Declares Former Pre-
mier Lindman.
ACTIVITIES OF JINGOES
Government to Take Firm Stand on
Trade Rights Protective League
of Neutrals Suggested.


Stockholm (by mail. Sept. 9.-Admiral
Indman, former Swedish premier and
present leader of the conservative party,
emphatically denied in an interview today
that Sweden was prepared to make any
concessions in her trade dispute with
England. 1t had been persistently ru-
mored in Stockholm that upon the return
Of the English commissioners and the re-
sumption of the conference Sweden would
be forced by her serious shortage of coal
to waive the principle of free commerce
which she has insisted upon and TO COM
ply with Englands request that she no
longer delay the transit of supplies to
Russia.
1T is unfortunate" said Admiral
Lindman, that no league of neutral
powers was formed at the beginning of
the war to safeguard the rights and
privileges of the neutral nations; but
since that was not done. it is now the
duty OF Sweden to defend these rights
One of these rights is her commerce
with another neutral nation like the
United States. In her dispute with
England Sweden is unfolding this SOW
ereign right, and she will continue to
uphold il.
''England's action is equivalent to fore
ing us into a partnership with her, for
We regard it one of the requirements OF
neutrality to treat both sides impartially
in regard to the transit of materials.
Now that England has made it imposN-
BILE for us to send goods to Germany. our
only way of correcting this is TO refuse
to permit transit of supplies to Russia
and England.
Some Lack of Patriotism.
Our cause has been very much in
jured by certain individuals in Sweden,
who unpatriotically suggest that the
failure of the commission to arrive at
an understanding has been due to
Swedish obstinacy and too much en-
phasis on the traditional rights of
Sweden. This would create the i'm
preston that Sweden herself is divided
on the question. which is not true.
"It also is stated here in Stockholm
that Sweden should not limit her COM
plants to England. but also protest
against Germanys action in sinking
swedish ships. which is just as dis
tinct a violation of our rights. But this
is trifling in comparison with the enor-
nous harm which we are suffering
from the interference with our imports
which concern the whole life and in
dustry of the nation. / do not say that
IL Germany were in the same place as
England she would not be attempting
the same thing. but she is not in a
position to bother US in this respect.
The issue at hand has been obScured
by an ignorance of the regulations
governing our exports to foreign coun-
tries. and there has been. l think. con-
siderable confusion in the minds of
people at homN and abroad as to what
We can and what we cannot rightfuIy
-Nport. We are reproved for having
shipped vast quantities of cotton to
iermany. but this was at a time when
the export Of cotton was not forbidden
and when il was going direct from the
United States to Germany. There are
4 great many other articles which we
shipped to Germany without protest
Contra ba nd Trade Exaggerated.
AS To the amount of Illicit trade
with Germany. that has been greatly
Exaggerated. There is always a GER
tain amount Of smuggling and evasion
of law which no government can entire
iy prevent. hut the amount OF supplies
which has gone to Germany in this way
mas been insignificant.
Swedish sentiment has as its foun-
dation a deep-seated disapproval of
Russia. founded not only on a traditional
-nmty with that country, but on the
espionage and the diplomatic intriCues
which Russia has carried on in Sweden.
The memory Of this remains in spite of
the fact that in the present war Russia
has done nothing which Sweden can
.'riticise unless it is proven that she has
erected permanent fOrtifications on the
AAland Islands. contrary TO her Baltic
treaty.
There are two kinds of activists in
sweden. 1t is only the extremists who
believe we should take advantage of the
present opportunity tn strike at Russia
What / might call the passive activists
are alert. watchful. ready for war. if
war cannot be honoraby avoided. 1t
is this kind Of activist who comes near
est TO representing the popular spirit of
Sweden
While 20 per cent of Europe is en-
broiled in war. there is always the dis
tinct danger that the rest may be drawn
in by simple process of attra ction. For
this contingency Sweden is ready