New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-05-25
Country Unable to Shake
Of Hypnotic Influence
of Kultur
Britain Viewed as Foe
Remarkable Book Reveals
That Imperialistic Ideal
Still Prevails
By JOHN g.. HOLNlE

From the beginning Of the world
war up to the Russian revolution
Sweden was the most vociferous pro-
German neutral in Europe. In view OF
that fact. il is not exactly surprising
that the State Department in Washing
tor looked with eyes OF suspicion OH
the international Socialist Conference
in Stockholm, and refused passports to
the three delegates from the United
States, Victor L. Berger, Morris hili-
quit and Aigernon Lee.
Even the pseudo-Socialists Of Ger
many may shake their heads and say:
"Well. it didn't work.
Shortly after the war began there
appeared OH the bookstalls in swedish
cities an anonymous volume entitled:
Swedish Foreign Policy in the Light
of the World War" 1t is one OF the
most interesting and picturesque books
the war has produced purporting to
have been written by several members
OF the so-called Activist faction IN
Sweden, representing all political
faiths. including the Socialist. Inc
Activist party has been shouting Tor
participation in the war on the SIDE OF
Germany ever since the first shot was
fired.
Four leaders Of the Swedish Socialist
party were accused of having helped
write the book. which extolled Ger
many. condemned the Allies. and de-
manded that Sweden take up arms with
the Central Powers in the defence OF
Germanic kultur The four men, Pro-
fessor Gustav Steiren. DR.. Otto Jarte,
DR.. Yngre LARSON and Herr Hedge
Lindholn, refused to deny or affirm the
accusation, and Professor Steffen was
subsequently expelled from the party.
The book was translated INTO several
languages and has been best seller IN
Germany for more than two years.
Socialists Pro-German
Sweden was half hypnotized by
Teutonism long before the war. and
several years ago there sprang up a
faction in the Swedish socialist party
that dared to wed the MARKHAM thco-
ries Of economies with extreme mill
fancy and nationslism. This faction
las grown stronger since the war be
gan. and Swedish men of affairs who
have visited this country during the
last few months have admitted freely
that a large number of the Socialists
OF their country were strongly pro-
German and desired Sweden to par
iicipate in the war or the side Of the
Central Empires.
A III nl, oil ,f<-
Cf Sweden has subsidized since the
Russian revolution. but the majority
Of Swedish leaders are still pro-Ger-
man. ard il may be presumed that
many of the Swedish Socialists who
ore staging the peace conference in
Stockholm favor 2 German victory.
Swedish Foreign Policy in the
Light Of the World War" commonly
believed 10 have been written pIin-
cipally by Professor Stefen. blames
English intrigue and old Russia 5
territorial greed for the war
1--WE belong to the Germanic race.
!; states. "We are participants in the
highest culture 70 which mankind has
risen. If Sweden can be said TO pos
scss any aim in the hiera rchy Of ma
lions. il consists in the duty of pro-
'ectlng this race and this culture on
the threatened northeastern front OF
Europe"
Germany as Swcdcn's Friend
Germany throughout the volume Is
portrayed as Sweden's friend. and
England and Russia as her enemies
Several pages are devoted to dis
cussion of how England acted the vii.
Jain in eifecting the separation OF
Norway from Sweden in 1905. The au
thors state that the papers substan.
tiating this charge will not be made
rublic for generations.
This strange volume. while cxtollnc
the principles of Socialism and worlo
peace. gives ample evidence of that