The Cordova daily times., 1916-07-28
BLOCKADE CAUSE IF FRICTION
 IN SWEDEN

SIoChfOisMs SWeueh, Juiy ~.
 Correspondence of the Associated Press.) - While much has been said and written in the United States re- garding the British blockade and it's effect upon the neutral nations, there still exists here in Scandinavia a feel ing among government officials and commercial interests that the Ameri- can people as whole do not fully comprehend the situation. They as- sert that in tightening her ring fo steel" around Germany, Great Bri- tain has arbitrarily put the three neu- tral countries of northern Europe on "rations." Tie British officials in charge of the blockade permit these countrise to have only what the of ficials think they should have, not what the countries proclaim they need.
 In the case of Norway and Denmark the "rations" tasis Is maintained by agreement in the case of Sweden it is enforced by British sea power, by seizure of neutral ships at sea and detention of goods in English har. bors. Some Scandinavian ships, on route to Sweden from South America, recently have been entirely emptied of cargo and sent to their home ports as paupers of the ocean highway.
 Swedish government officials and | Swedish merchants alike do not hesi- tate to say they have hoped against hope the United States would take a stand in behalf of the neutral coun- tries which would bring about more reasonable enforcement of the block ade. They have protested in vain to Great Britain and have endeavored to take such retaliatory steps as were at Swedens command But they req | lize Sweden Is in no position and has neither the resources nor the mili- tary importance to gain for her pro- I tests favorable consideration.
 One effect of the blockade has been to place food supplies in the hands of spectators. who are demanding ex- orbitant prices for their wares. Od- dly enough a great majority of these spectators are said to be Germans. Many months ago they bought for shipment to Germany supplies not GOV cred by re-export agreements. but soon found prices were soaring to such high figures here in Sweden it was more profitable to hold their goods and resell to the Swedish peo- pie. This is particularly true of cof- fee. No people in all the world love their coffee like the Swedes. Already they are paying practically double the normal price for 1t, with quotations daily leaping upward. There is fear that conditions here may soon ap- proach those in Holland, which have caused so many disturbances.
 There is no doubt that the situation between Great Britain and Sweden has been aggravated by the passage of the Swedish war trade act, which 1 prevents merchants and importers from making personal agreements with the British authorities regarding the passage of goods through the block ade The Swedish government felt it was humiiiating to it to have such agreements in effect and the law pro- vides that all guarantees and shipping arrangements shall be made through the national trade commission. This commission holds that Great Britain is not entitled to guarantee on goods coming to Sweden from another neutral country. The British. 1t is said here, feel the act was aimed at them, although American importers fin Stockholm found 1t really worked against American trade. Temporarily l the Swedish authorities are winking at certain evasions of the act, but i'm mediately after its passage there was noticeable stiffening of the British attitude.
 AS a matter of fact it is commonly reported here that Great Britain has l h..-. A.hai...- ul.on on.l.r h, Man on