Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1916-07-13
SWEDEN.

w. A. f. Ekengren. minister to the
United States from Sweden, stated q
few days ago that his government will
take no action against the recent mill
tary encroachment of Russia on the
Aland islands. but will await the con-
clusion of peace In Europe for set
Element. The Aland islands, which
are but 30 miles from the Swedish
coast and IS miles from Stockholm,
have been transformed into a Russian
naval base during the last six weeks
and it Is reported the Petrograd gov
eminent Is erecting fortresses on the
islands. "This action Is contrary to
the convention drawn up by Russia
with Great Britain and France In 1856
and while there are some citizens sus-
picious of Russia's action, the govern
ment at least has full confidence that
the matter will be settled amicably
ut the conclusion Of the war;" said
Minister Ekengren. I'VE are enjoy
ing friendlier relations with Russia
than we have In a decade. At the
opening Of the war both Russia and
Great Britain created hostile feeling
In Sweden by sinking our vessels and
seizing our mail boats, but the two
governments since have agreed to many
Of our claims and the ill-feeling prac-
tically has died out. Nevertheless
Sweden has suffered economic losses
as the result of the war on our trade
and business interests have been ham,
pered. Because of the Russian fortifi-
cation of the Aland islands and the
placing of mines throughout the Bal
tic sea, our trade with our large terri
tory along the gulf of Botnia is
practically at standstill and the lum-
Der and steel Industries in the prov
ince Of Norrland are stagnant. The
allies already have agreed to many
of our claims for damages and peace
in Europe is expected to see complete
settlement Of the others. While the
Russian Notifications on the Aland
islands are contrary to treaties, the
encroachments probably are only tenn
porary and Sweden will take the mat
ter UP at the close of the war;"
A consortium of Scandinavian finan-
ciers is planning an insurance corpora
ton which will insure against the hor-
rors of peace. The coming of peace
is dreaded by thousands Of financlers,
manufacturers, shippers, railroad
frelghters. bear spectators (also some
industries bull speculators) and 9TH
ers. AS the war drags on the interests
of these classes become more and more
dependent on long war; and thou
sands have entered upon deals that
involve their ruin IL peace comes sud-
denly and without warning. Hence
the scheme Of insurance against peace.
Such scheme implies that many per-
sons are making money out of the war.
and that is a fact. The condition Of
the United States war stock is par
alleIed In neutral Europe. The differ
ence Is that America is making money
mainly out Of munitions and war
stores and neutral Europe Is making
1t out of everything conceivable. Ship
owners, food producers. clothmakers.
railroads Especially In Norway and
Sweden), chemists. medical store pro-
ducers, dye manufacturers. paper
makers, alkali producers, aluminium
trades and men In 80 other trades are
fiourishing The losses at first suf-
fered because Of dislocation of credit
have been made up and the neutral
states are flourishing as never before
In their history. The reason Is that
in addition to prosperous home con-
ditions (a few minor trades except
ed) they are taking in vast sums Of
money from belligerent countries.
The government white book on
Measures Taken During the War;"
reports that the economic dislocation
quickly passed, and mentions as an In
stance of the war boom that the state
railroad, earnings in November. 1915,
were three times as great as those in
November, 1914. The cause of this
is Sweden's position between Russia
and western Europe. During the win
ter Archangel Is frozen port and dur
ing the summer the narrow-gauge rail-
road from Archangel south can carry
only fraction of the goods that Rus
sin needs.