New-York tribune., 1916-01-27
Sweden's Threat.

The Swedish Premior's speech nm the
Riksdag on Tuesday viii undoubtedly be
read in England as an emphatic warning
against the adoption Of more drastic meas
ures to intercept Gcrmany's imports.
With other neutral countries. Sweden has
suffered under Britaiu's blockade policy.
and it is certain that the Premier's pro
test. framed almost i'm the terms of an ul-
timatum. Will be approved enthusiastically
by a large proportion of the Swedish peo-
ple. Those Swedes who have been making
large fortunes by trading with Germany
under the conditions hitherto possible
would be the first to protest against any
measures that might curtail their profits,
but they would have the support Of the
considerable number who have actually
suffered. even though these are in large
measure victims of their own country
mems cupidity.
For it cannot be questioned that many
have suffered. The position Of Sweden, as
of other neutral countries in Germany's
neichborhood. has been difficult from the
first. At times it has been manifestly
rerilous. The desire of sober and dlsln-
terested Swedes is probably TO maintain
neutrality. but the difficulties of the posi-
tion are obvious. Nor are these difficulties
confined TO Sweden's relations with Great
Britain. for it may be recalled that not
many weeks ago a clash with Germany was
narrowly averted when a Swedish cruiser
foiled an attempt TO sink British vessel
in territorial waters. For reasons suif-
ciently apparent, however, friction with
Great Britain and her allies has been more
constant and more calling.
Sweden is in considerable measure de-
pendent upon foreign countries for raw
materials and for supplies which csnno:
proftably be produced at home. The meas
ures taken to prevent supplies from reach
ing Germany have of course been felt in
Sweden: coal, for instance, is now selling
at something in the neighborhood Of SIS
\ ton. The crops in the last two years
were below normal; hence 1t has been
necessary TO import a good deal Of grain
corn and food for cattle. Perhaps there
are some In Sweden who would hold the
comparative failure Of the crops to be
sufficient 10 account for the heavy imports
/ but. however that may be, it is certain that
II powerful efforts have been made by Grea
Britain TO limit such imports. 1t Is to this
circumstance that the Swedes attribute
the great increase in the cost Of living
alleging, moreover. that the farmers hav'
been obliged TO dispose Of their horses an'
cattle for want Of fodder. It cannot b'
denied, however, that they got extrava
CANT prices from the Germans, and 1t i
significant that traffic in such exports wa
carried so far that they were ultimatel!
placed under government control to keeI
them within reasonable limits.
Many exports are now regulated by
license, and licenses are issued only on the
condition that an equivalent in some arti
Gle required by Sweden is allowed TO e
through. In this way Sweden has beer
able TO bring pressure TO bear on the bel
Igerents, and so some Of the grievance
complained of have been removed, or a
least mitigated. That these grievance
were in great part real cannot obscure the
fact that they were attributable largely
TO those who were making great fortunes
by buying from abroad and selling to Ger
many at a huge profit. If this question:
BILE traffic could be entirely suppressed
Britain and her allies might have no occa
sion TO interfere further with Sweden.