Evening star., 1916-07-25

argue that the United States has a most
potent weapon to use against the allies
to bring about "a more lawful conduct
of the blockade" They firmly believe
that If the United States government
would threaten to forbid the export OF
munitions of war and to declare un-
lawful any loans to belligerent nations.
England would quickly be brought to
terms. 1t is felt here that the United
States has a great opportunity at this
time to build up a permanent trade
with the Scandinavian countries, but
the blockade, coupled with the deten-
tion and censorship of neutral mails. is
making progress most difficult.
Would Let America Dictate.
The Scandinavians would be perfect
ly willing. they say, to let America die
tate the conditions of the blockade.
They do not feel they should be left
arbitrarily to the will of Great Britain.
There is no attempt here to deny the
fact that huge quantities of supplies
were shipped to Germany from Sweden
after the outbreak of the war, but 1t
is pointed out that Sweden always has
had an immense trade with Germany,
both buying and selling. This trade
has far outweighed that with any other
nation.
ment has prohibited the export of
articles until now practically nothing
can be sent out of the country except
by special permission. If a Swedish
merchant is detected violating a guar
antee that goods imported by him were
for use in Sweden and would not be
sent out of the country, the govern
ment undertakes to punish him regard
less of the fact that the agreement may
have been an entirely private transac-
ton.
One effect of the blockade has been to
place food supplies in the hands of
spectators who are demanding exorbi-
tant prices for their wares. Oddly
enough. great majority of these spec
ulators are said to be Germans Many
months ago they bought for shipment
to Germany supplies not covered by
re-export agreements. but soon found
prices were soaring to such high fig
ures here in Sweden 1t was more prof
table to hold their goods and resell to
the Swedish people.
This is particularly true Of coffee. No
people in all the world love their coffee
like the Swedes. Already they are pay
for it, with quotations daily leapins
upward. There is fear that conditions
here may soon approach those in Hol-
land, which have caused SO many dis
turbances.
In a long article dealing with "The
Blockade Against Sweden the Stock
holm newspaper Nya Dagligt Allehan
da asserts that the more recent tight
ening of the embargo on Swedish inn
ports is clearly a pressure to force
Sweden to make a trade agreement
with Great Britain similar to those
which place Denmark and Norway at
her mercy
Such an agreement. we hope. will
never be made by any Swedish gov
ernment," the paper adds. Arguments
have been made in favor of such step.
but everybody now should see the tend
ency Of Great Britain. There is no
longer a question of our needs. but
what 1t pleases Great Britain to give
US.
There is not the slightest excuse for
the blockade against Sweden-it is
merely display of power. the placing
Of heavy burdens upon a neutral and
friendly people. One cannot but feel
that a nation thus Wantonly taking ad-
vantage of her control of the seas is
working against her own best interests
and inviting eventual destruction"