Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1916-07-06
SWEDEN.

SWEDEN.
Russia Is terrifying the Aland
islands, which may be reached froIG
Stockholm by steamer In three or four
hours. This matter was brought to
the attention Of the government OF
Sweden through the riksdag last
month. Minister Wailenberg stated
categorically that II Is vital matter
to Sweden that there be no forts Of
permanent character on Aland and
that the Swedish government would
take such measures as would be found
necessary for the safeguarding Of the
nations interest. Then followed a
truly significant and Impressive scene.
The leaders Of >the various party
groups In the riksdag In turn arose
and read carefully prepared state
ments, acquiescing In the view that
Sweden considers unfortified Aland a
vital matter to her and pledging the
support of the various groups to the
government In the measures that 1t
must take In conformity with this po-
sition. It meant that although the
parties may be seriously divided on
many points, they stand united when
they see the nation In danger. The
Russians have maintained that the de-
lenses are Of temporary character
and will be razed when the war comes
to an end. In some quarters out
side of Sweden II has been affirmed
that assurances already have been
given by England and France that this
will be provided for In the fnterna-
tional agreements that are to follow
the conclusion Of the war. But pru-
dent men have become skeptical re-
garding the protection afforded by pa
per agreements. What is worrying the
Swedes most is not the fear that they
Will be dragged into the war. but
rather what may follow after the war.
A syndicate 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 fnanciers.
manufacturers, shippers, railroad
freighters. bear spectators (also in
some industries bull speculators) and
others. AS the war drags on the in
terests of these classes become more
and more dependent on long war;
and thousands have entered upon
deals that involve their ruin IL peace
comes suddenly and without warning.
Hence the scheme Of insurance
against peace. Such scheme implies
that many persons are making money
out of the war, and that Is a fact.
Neutral Europe is making 1t out Of
everything conceivable. Shipowners,
food producers, clothingmakers, rail-
roads Especially IN Norway and Swe-
den), chemists, medical store produc-
ers, dye manufacturers, paper makers,
alkali producers, aluminium traders
and men In so other trades are -four
ishing. The losses at first suffered
because of dislocation of credit have
been made up and the neutral states
are fiourishing as never before in
their history. The reason Is that In
addition to prosperous home condi-
tons Ia few minor trades excepted
they are taking In vast sums of money
from belligerent countries.
Stockholm is running up new busi-
ness buildings Of a kind the modest
city never saw before. Last winter
were opened five picture palaces Of a
kind formerly seen only In Berlin.
Some of these buildings are lined
with marble. In the Kungstradgard
street the big Enskild bank has built
new home on heavy Berlin lines.
This bank belongs to the multimilllon.
aire family of Wallenberg. richest in
Sweden. Chief of the family for
wealth and brains Is the Wallenberg
who Is Sweden's foreign minister. An
other bank has built a marble palace
with a Venetian Gothic gallery.
Everything that Russia does not get
by way of Siberia she gets by way Of
Sweden. Sweden's railroad rolling
stock is not adequate for the traffic.
This freight traffic means the expen-
diture In Sweden of large sums of
English and Russian money; 1t
brought hundreds of agents, forward
ers and Intermediates, who spend
large sums. There are also spies,
propaganda agents and arrangers Of
contraband deals, with big sums at
their command. The German agent,
Baron Lindner, was sent to Sweden
with s7500,000, and most Of it was
spent.
The riksdag has been asked to APP.
propriate $1.000,000 as loan to the
stonecutting industries to enable them
to furnish work for the Idle men. 1t
Is also proposed to spend $4,000,O00
for the electrification of the Kiruna
and Svarton railway. Finally 1t is
proposed to devote $13,00O,000 to the
Improvement of the defenses.
An auction for the sale Of objects
of art was recently held In Stockholm.
and for several days the daily sales
were from $4,000 to $4,000.
Sss
A chorus Of Norwegian lady stu
dents recently gave concert In
Stockholm. The applause was hearty.
Several numbers had to be repeated.
The soloist and the director were
called out several times to receive the
applause of the assemblage. A large