The Washington times., 1915-06-07
SCANDINAVIA AND ThE WAR

Russia and Sweden have ex-
changed ratifications of treaty Of
commerce and amity which is de-
scribed as distinctly significant at
this time, because it is hoped that
the pact will inaugurate an era Of
better relations between the two
countries. They have for two CEN
turies been instructive enemies. Once
they were rivals for domination of
the north; but Russia by sheer i'm
mensity bore down Sweden at last,
took her east Baltic provinces, and
treated her much as, in cooperation
with Germany and Austria, she
treated Poland. Sweden has seen
the tragedy Of Poland, and realized
that the same fate. Of being par
celed piecemeal, might be in store
for her.
Russia needs the Scandinavian
frontage on the Atlantic, most of
which is Norwegian; and Russian
intrigue is charged with some re-
sponsibility for the divorce that end
ed the relations Of Sweden and Nor
way as a dual kingdom. That sep
aration weakened both countries.
Russia married Romanoff princess
to the Swedish crown prince q few
years ago, and the Swedish people
regarded it as a menace, especially
after it was learned that the prin-
cess was helping Russian agents get
secret diplomatic and military in
formation. So the parliament took
steps that compelled the dissolution
of the marriage. 1t hardly need
be recalled that this system Of in
termarrying their royalties was one
part of the plan by which Poland's
enemies at length broke down the
capacity Of Poland to maintain it
self in vigorous independence.
Sweden had little stomach for being
victimized in that fashion.
The safety of Sweden and Norway
has lain chiefly in the fact that Ger
many could never consent to Rus
sian domination Of the northern
peninsula. 1t has been possible to
play off Berlin against Petrograd
time and again. Denmark has real
lied that if Russia should take Scan
dinavia, Germany would try to get
Denmark. So the three little ma
tions Of the north have been drawn
more and more into a sympathy of
interests, which eliminated some
four months after the present wal
began in a conference Of their SOW
ereigns at which they established
some sort of basis for cooperation
in neutrality that was supposed also
to involve cooperation in action il
action should be necessary.
Scandinavia, like the Balkan
region, has been protected against
interference by powerful states, be-
cause Of the jealousies Of the big
nations. England does not wan
Russia appearing on the Atlanti.
front Of Europe, turning her atten
tion to the seas, with base just of
the north of the United Kingdom. 81
Britain has become Scandinavia.
chief guarantor, and Germany has il
this regard been able to co-operat,
in general way with the British
nation. 1t Is pretty safe conjec
ture that the diplomacy of Down
ing street was mixed up in arrang
ing the present treaty between Rus
sia and Swed4n, and that it is
first step toward developing a stu
alton in which the Scandinavian
peoples may lend their amiable sen
timents to the side Of the entent
powers. It is in just such work a
this that England leads the entente
her interests and her general repu
tation alike make it possible for he
to engineer diplomatic deals wit
the smaller nations Of Europe, sue
as would be quite impossible with
out her aid.