Evening star., 1917-09-11
|SWEDEN'S PROMISE
IS NOT SUFFICIENT
Must AbsoIve Herself From
Charge of Completely
in Espionage.
EXPOSE HELPS EMBARGO

Sweden's acknowledgment that her
diplomatic service acted as channel of
communication between the Berlin for
eign Office and Count Luxburg, German
charge in Argentina, but was ignorant
of the contents of the dispatches. was
received by State Department officials
without surprise, as is the declaration
that steps will be taken to prevent a
repetition of the incident.
But it was made clear that these SIM
pie declarations will not be enough.
Sweden. it was said. is expected to go
further and correct the principle and
absolye herself from any charge OF
completely in espionage.
Must Protect Military Secrets.
Readjustment of conditions bearing
on the situation must be extended. IT
was said, until the allied powers feel
certain that military Information can
not be sent to the enemy from any
other neutral country, where agents of
the kaiser may be taking advantage of
the diplomatic privileges of the Stock
holm foreign Office and its representa-
tives.
Until officially advised, the State De-
partment will take no official cognt-
zance of Sweden's explanation. and 1t
is not improbable that even then ac-
ton may be delayed until a concert OF
opinion among the allied governments
can be obtained. 1t was suggested,
however. that any hesitation by Sweden
might result in vigorous protest by
all the allied powers.
Sweden's statement created less sur
Secretary Lansing made the revelations
last Saturday only after receiving abso-
Lutte proof of their genuineness. Official
comment continued to be withheld to-
day, but 1t is understood that before
making public the facts the department
had determined what would be required
to satisfy this government.
Officials of the department, although
not surprised by the admission that
Sweden has been accustomed to trans
agents without knowing their contents.
pointed out that such action was con-
trary to long-established rules of in
ternational courtesy and usage.
Diplomats as well as American Off
cials were astounded that the Stock
holm foreign office should have held
the opinion that no international inn
propriety was being committed. and
Furthermore that the intimation should
be given that adjustments might be
made in specific cases and not in all.
Two facts stood out clearly in the
minds of most observers. Sweden Will
be compelled to make definite her po-
sition as a neutral, and the e posure
may be taken as indicating more ex-
actly the intention of the allies TO see
that Germany shall cease receiving aid
from all the northern European neu-
trail countries.
Wins Friends for Embargo.
Qualification of tho facts although dis
closing nothing the governments exports
administrative board has not known for
some time, reveals to the public that this
government is fully cognizant of aid
powers and tends to cement opinion in
support of the absolute embargo put
into effect against Sweden, along with
the other neutrals, six weeks ago. 1t
no foodstuffs or other supplies will be
permitted to go to the neutrals for at
least six weeks. to give this government
an opportunity to establish precisely their
trade relations with Germany.
Sweden as well as the other neutralS
has contended it has the right to export
to Germany any commodities imported
from the United States. Some Ameri-
can officials say the war would be end
ed within six months if Swedish iron
exports to Germany were stopped. The
Swedes, it is declared, have drained
their country of foodstuffs by taking
from the foodproducing industries
vast numbers of men and placing them
in the iron mines and the munitions
factories which have sprung up since
the war began.
Another phase of the situation that
is given careful attention here is the
possible effect if Argentina breaks re-
lations with Germany or declares war
Argentina this winter will have large
quantities of wheat for export, and as
a neutral she might send much of it to
the European neutrals under the oper-
alton of the British blockade. AS a
belligerent or with diplomatic relations
broken. however, the Argentine gov
ernment probably would take control
of it's exports and carefully supervise
ell shipments to the neutrals to pre-
many.
Argentina is the only one of the big
food exporting nations now at peace
with Germany. The Argentina wheat
zoo. 100000 bushels. much of which, IT
is said, already has been purchased by
the European neutral governments.
The British government. in dealing
that no food be re-exported. The United
States. now a belligerent, in granting
export licenses for food shipments to
will demand that it not be
used to take the place of other food
stuffs that might be exported, and some
officials want to go SO far as to refuse
food to workers whose product is sold
to Germany.
Secretary Lansing sent the copies of
the intercepted messages to the Ameri I
can representative at Stockholm. Lon /
don and Paris for their Information. |
Not even the minister a Stockholm was |
given any instructions to call it to the /
attention of the foreign office. the as |
being that the legation here. !
10 which was delivered copy, would
ose no time in forwarding it to its |
government.
Mr.. Lansing WithhoIds Comment.
not to add comment to the |
disclosures. Officials believe that the |
Argentine government will demand |