Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1916-08-03
in FAR NORTHlAND
important Events In Sweden,
Norway and Denmark.
BRIEFS FROM OLD COUNTRY
interesting Items From the Three
Great Kingdoms Of the North, Sc
leetea for Scandinavians and
Their Descendants.
BY MARTIN w. ODIAND.


Sweden.
According to dispatch from
Stockholm, q sensation has been Gre
ated through all Sweden by the publ
cation Of an alleged official report from
German agent In this country regard
Ing a plan to bring Sweden into po-
liucal, IF not closer" alliance with
Germany as the northern link In IAN
immovable wall against Russia and
against the Asiatic danger" This wall
Ii referred to as being constructed by
| Turkey, Bulgaria, Austria and Ger
many. For the work of propaganda in
Sweden the alleged report asks for
preliminary appropriation of more
than 100000 marks and suggests that
Turkey and the other allies of Ger
many be asked to contribute their
proper share. The anti-German news
papers In Stockholm comment rather
bitterly upon this suggestion Of an in
ternational "siush fund" for Sweden.
but assert that many of the recon-
mendations In the report, evidently
| written last December, have been car
| ried into effect. 1t also Is asserted
that the report explains much Of the
recent activity In Sweden against Rus
STA and the attempt to force situa-
ton which would cause Sweden to de-
clare war as an ally Of the central
powers. In the opinion Of ro-German
politicians Sweden has not come into
the war because she has lacked q di-
rect cause" the report says. But grad
ualiy the political influences are be-
| coming more and more unfavorable to
the entente, especially to England.
The new constellation Of nations. ar
ranged by German diplomacy in the
Balkans, has tended to win not only
the sympathy but the reason of the
Swedish people for the central powers.
| Concerning the tactics of the propa-
| ganda 1t should be carried forward on
three main lines. Opposition to and
guarantees against British power. In
formation concerning true Conditions
in Russia and the danger threatening
Sweden from that quarter. Advan-
| tages Of lasting union with the central
powers. The so-called actlvist group
In Sweden has lost considerably In in
fiuence lately. Perhaps the designation
was unhappily chosen, for even some
In the ultimate goal of war on behalf
Of Germany, have hesitated publicly to
align themselves with the group which
has demanded immediate action with
out the necessary working up Of public
opinion. There Is no denying that In
the last IL months sentiment has been
growing against throwing Sweden into
the horrors of the war without COM
polling cause. The pro- German group
however, In its press and in its agita-
ton against the entente powers, has
been directing public opinion toward u
neutrality as Ii should be. I believe
that most of the Swedes who must de-
eide the fate. of their nation. can be
won over for union with the central
powers" the report adds. 1T is ques-
ton now of gathering our friends, and
many Of those whose sympathies are
with us but who yet stand apart. into
new party which will stand between
the activists and the pacifists, but
which at the psychological moment will
combine forces with the activists to
bring about the desired result. Into
this group or party we must get men
whose names and whose standing place
them above all suspicion. Our pro-
gram must avoid jingoism or being
more Swedish than the Swedes.' II
must smooth the path for the eventual
political union of Sweden with the
central powers as move that makes
certain the future of the country for
years to come. II the ground Is proper.
ly prepared In advance this position
will win the adherence of the people
, at large. The movement must appear
to come from the broad mass of the
, people" The report refers to several
unfortunate incidents" Of the activists
compaign. and particularly deplores
the lecture delivered in Stockholm by
the German professor, wilhelm Ost
valid. publicly proclaiming Germany's
, plans Of future activity"
The feeling of the Swedish people
|. against England on account or hel
4 blockade of the Scandinavian countries
Z grows stronger and stronger, In the
|. case OF Norway and Denmark the
/. blockade is not actual, the ports OF
/. those countries not being patrolled b,
/. british warships to prevent the impor
/, tation of foreign goods. but the amount
n Of goods that can be and Is shipped
r into those countries is fixed by agree
nent, which Is faithfully carried on
Call Again, Please.
J. You proposed marriage to my sis
ter, believer" asked the blonde one
y "Yes. / did" replied the young man
with his hat In his hand.
u And she refused you?"
''She did"
Oh. we'll, hope you're not through