Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1916-08-03
SCANDINAVIAN NEWS.
SUMMARY OF IMPORTANT HAP.
PENINGS IN FAR OFF
NoRTHLAND.
ITEMS FROM THE OLD HOME
Resume Of the Most Important Events
In Sweden, Norway and Denmark
OF Interest to the Scandinavians
In America.
SWEDEN.

Thanks to the indulgence of friendly
government officials and the co-opera-
ton of the British consulate In Stock
holm, the difficulties Of continuing
trade with America under the new
Swedish war-trade act, temporarily, at
least, have been overcome. The new
law specifically prohibits anyone in
Sweden from entering into agreements
with foreign powers covering the dis
position of goods imported into this
country, and was ostensibly a retalia-
tory act against the British blockade
In the North sea. In actual operation,
however, 1t was discovered quickly
that the law really favored England
and threatened to shut off trade with
America. The principle behind these
conditions was that a belligerent M
ton had perfect right to demand the
promise that no exported goods should
fall into the hands Of an enemy coun-
try. Thus the commission has not hes
itated to extend such promises to
Great Britain covering goods imported
by Sweden from English merchants.
But the Swedish government holds
that Great Britain has no right under
pretext Of international law to demand
guaranty from Sweden covering
goods imported from another neutral
country - particularly the United
States. Great Britain absolutely re-
fuses to let any goods pass into Swe-
den or any other Scandinavian coun-
try from the United States or any
other place, without this specific guar
anty. With the Swedish government
refusing to give such guarantees un-
der the new act, and Great Britain's
navy shutting Off all imports not COW
cred by guarantees, trade with Amer
lea seemed In a bad way. After
studying the law In detail, however,
1t has been decided it is elastic enough
to permit temporarily system Of
evasion which works this way: Instead
Of making an agreement with the Brit
ish government, the importer swears
to the British form of guaranty be-
fore a Swedish notary public. He
then goes to the British consulate, and
there the signature of the Swedish no.
tary is certified. Then the declaration
is sent to the agent of the shipping
line In London and he applies for the
import license from the British au-
thorities.
As early as 1911 the Swedish riks-
dag passed law establishing a ma
/, tional board Of censors for all films to
be shown in the kingdom and laying
down certain guiding principles. ac-
cording to which verdicts should be
rendered. The law embodied In the
main the recommendation of COM
mittee appointed several months ear
lier. The Swedish system has since
served as a model for legislation In
Norway and Denmark. The Swedish
statutes prohibit the exhibition of all
film scenes prescribed by the COM
mon or statute law of the land or
by sense of propriety and good man
ners. Films must be excluded which
might tend to foster vulgarity or ex-
alt boorishness. Care must be exer-
cised to eliminate all scenes likely to
confuse ideas of right and wrong. and
films that present suicides or brutal
or ingeniously contrived crimes. Films
may not be shown betraying army or