Grand Forks herald., 1916-07-24

that with any other nation. But one
by one the Swedish government has
prohibited the export Of articles until
now practically nothing can be sent
out of the country except by special
permission. If Swedish merchant is
detected violating a guarantee that
goods imported by him were for use
in Sweden and would not be sent out
Of the country. the government under
takes to punish him regardless Of the
fact that the agreement may have
been an entirely private transaction.
One effect Of the blockade has been
to place food supplies in the hands
Of speculators who are demanding
exorhitant prices for their wares. Odd
ly enough a great majority Of these
SPECTATORS are said to be Germans.
Many months ago they bought for
shipment to Germany supplies not
covered by re-export agreements, but
son found prices were soaring to such
high figures here in Sweden It was
more profitable to hold their goods
and resell to the Swedish people. This
pie in all the world love their coffee
like the swedes. Already they are
paying practically double the normal
price for 1t with quotations daily
leaptng upward. There is fear that
conditions here may coon approach
IlioSe III dOlLanO WnlCn nave caused
SO many disturbances.
In long article dealing with 'sThe
Blockade Against Sweden" the Stock
holm newspaper Nya Dagligt Alle-
banda asserts that the more recent
tightening of the embargo on Swedish
imports is clearly q pressure to force
Sweden to make trade agreement
with Great Britain similar to those
which place Denmark and Norway
at her mercy"
such an agreement we hope will
never be made by any Swedish gov
ernment.' the paper adds. "Argu-
ments have been made in favor Of
such step, bnt everybody now should
see the tendency Of Great Britain.
Ihere Is no longer a question Of our
tsn nssd' 10 but Fve wat it sssss ssss g Great 1f
slightest excuse for the blockade
against Sweden-it is merely a dis
play Of power, the placing Of heavy
burdens upon neutral and friendly
people. One cannot but feel that a
nation thus wantonly taking advant-
age of her control Of the seas is work
Ing against her own best interests and
inviting eventual destruction"
There is no doubt that the situation
between Great Britain and Sweden
has been aggravated by the passa ee
OF the Swedish war trade act which
prevents merchants and importers
from making personal agreements
with the British authorities regarding
the passage Of goods through the
blockade. The Swedish government
felt it was humiliating to It to have
such agreements in effect and the law
provides that all guarantees and ship
ping agreements in effect and tho law
provides that all guarantees and ship
ping arrangements shall be made
through the national trade commis-
sion. This commission holds that
Great Britain is not entitled to a
guarantee on goods coming to Sweden
from another neutral country. Tho
British, It is Said here. feel the act
was aimed at them, although Ameri-
can importers in Stockholm found It
really worked against American trade.
Temporarily the Swedish authorities
are winking at certain evasions Of the
act. but immediatel yafter its passage
there was noticeable sti1feninr of the
British attitude.
f. As a matter: Of fact It Is cemmonlv
reported here that Great Britain haa
been holding since early in May An