Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-06-18
THE ISSUE OF THE ALAND ISLANDS

A correspondent of Le Temps tele-
graphs from Stockholm the following:
All the great econom-
Anglophobia ical associations Of swe-
den-the In u r al
UePloleo. Union. the General Ex-
portation Association. the Union of
Swedish Banks and the Chamber Of
Commerce of Stockholm-have pub
lished a manifesto OF great political
Importance. The manifesto Is a Sc
we're condemnation of the anglophobia
movement.
at 10 absolutely Indispensable
says the manifesto. that the tone OF
certain radical Swedish journals should
be radically modified And 1t adds
that the press campaign would bring
about international complications or
create beyond the border resentments
of a grave character for the future Of
the country Tho manifesto demands
that the press abstain from tho publ
cation Of articles which not only cause
irreparable damage to the economical
life of the nation, but which may place
in peril even the security Of the coun-
try"
The cause of the trouble has ex-
listed since the month of October. 1915,
when Russia commenced the construc-
ton Of military works in the Aland
Islands, In the Baltic sea, against any
German attack. which had been dis
lists" or those who openly proclaim
their desire to have Sweden espouse
the German cause actively. Russia Q
construction has awakened q veritable
L. -
sweden. due in great part to the &c
twist" press. which has provoked the
Intervention of the economical assoca-
atoms. to which reference has been
made above. and also ministerial
declaration in the rigsdag.
It should be said Just here that when
protestations were made by the Swedish
government to Russia the latter gave
prompt and satisfactory assurances
that the military constructions were
emergency Of the present war. These
declarations. which were accepted by
the Swedish government, remained un-
published except by single Norwegian
Journal. The question is not new. but
has been brought up three different
times and with the result Of public
alarm and unrest.
The archipelago Of Aland is situated
between the coasts of Finland and
Sweden a b o u I
Agreement Against seve e,sn.
miles di slant
EortlUcatlonS. from Stockholm
BY the convention Of Paris. March 80
1856, between France, England and
Russia, 1t was stipulated that no per-
manent fertilization should be raised
on the islands because OF menace to
Stockholm.
The question Of the Aland Islands
dates from the time of the war in the
Crimea, when an Anglo-French meet
fortress Of Bomarsund. situated on the
principal island of the archipelago
After the conclusion OF peace 5omar-
sund was returned to Russia by the
treaty of 1855. and this was assumed
to assure for . long time the equilibrium
Of Europe
But 1t was not so much the treaty it.
self that was important, but the spe,
ctal convention which was annexed
in which the Emperor Of Russia en-
gagged not to fortify the islands OF
Aland, and article II. which agreed that
Bomarsund should be RACED to the
ground.
Sweden had no part in signing the
convention of 1855. vet that diplo-
matte instrument was created to rec
ompense two great occidental powers
victorious in the war of the Crimea
The Aland Islands naturally interest
Sweden in the maximum degree. They
are situated at the entrance Of the
Gulf Of Bothnia and are separated
by the Sea Of Aland on the west by
a distance of twenty-three miles. on
the east by the Finland coast and
"Skiftat," twenty-five miles.
The strategic Importance Of the ar
chipelago consists in the fact that II
is situated near the ford of Stock.
the Gulf of Bothnia, whose western
and southern shores are Swedish. The
maintenance of fortress at this
point constituted a menace to Sweden
and would oblige that country to re-
sort to ornaments which would weigh
heavily on her budget.
France and England concluded with
the United Kingdom Of Sweden and
Norway November 25. 1855. a treaty
of capital Importance in the history of
Scandinavia King Oscar I engaged
himself not to cede to Russia nor to
exchange with her any part Of the
territory belonging to the crowns of
Sweden and Norway nor to permit any
sian empire. France and England con-
tracted to go to the aid on land or sea
to the united Scandinavian Kingdoms
with sufficient forces in case they were
On June s. 1908. the Norwegian par
lament denounced the union with
Sweden and declared
Separation the king tthen Oscar
Of Norway. all rights and claim. to
the throne of Norway. By this act.
which was ratified by the Swedo- Nor
wegian convention, the international
status Of the Scandinavian peninsula
was profoundly modified. The treaties
concluded by the united Kingdoms
ceased to be valid from the moment
Sweden and Norway became separate
powers. completely independent the
one of the other. each having its
proper foreign policy.
Norway was the first to establish her
new international status: she replaced
the treaty of November, become invalid
by the treaty of November 2. 1907, by
which the German. British, French and
Russian governments recognized and
engaged themselves to respect the in