The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1917-11-30
NEUTRALITY MAY
Be ABANDONED
Germany May Occupy
Denmark as Counter
Measure is Feared
MONARCHS MEET TO
DISCUSS SITUATION
Danes Consider 1t Out Of The
Question That Norway Will
Abandon Neutrality.

Copenhagen, Nov. 27.-Behind
the meeting of the Scandinavian
monarchs and minister and Christ
lana this week, lies the fear, un-
founded though it may be, of Nor
ways entry into the war and of the
German menace that, in this case,
she should feel called upon to oc-
cupy Denmark as a counter meas
ure.
The Associated Press learns from
responsible source that the con-
ference, which was arranged in con-
sequence, of an intimation from
Germany that the growth of anti
German sentiment in Norway, parti-
cularly after the sinking of the con-
voy in the North Sea by German
cruisers, is being followed with con-
Germ by Germany and that it is fear
ed that Norway might be impelled,
either by excited public opinion or
pressure from the allied side, to en-
ter the struggle at least to the point
of granting a naval base to England
and the United States in which
event Germany would feel called
upon to seize a corresponding base
in Denmark.
Upon the receipt of this informa-
ton at Copenhagen, word was hur-
riedly sent to King Gustave of
Sweden, and Denmark's most prom
inent citizen, President Anderson,
of the Danish East Asiatic company
who is high in the confidence of
Berlin as we'll as London, was
dispatched to Berlin to verify the
report, and if possible to change the
German attitude. Mr.. Andersen con-
ferred with DR.. Won Kuehlmann, sec
retary for foreign affairs, at Berlin,
and he confirmed the report, adding
that in consequence of the Italian
and Russian developments the mill
tary and pan-German elements were
again in the saddle in Germany and
exerting influence against which the
foreign office, with it's more moder-
ate views, found it most difficult to
contend.
King Gustave came to Copenha-
gen and spent a day in conference
with King Christian, President An
dersen and the Danish ministers. the
subject matter of the conferences
being covered by a display of gala
performances, an opera ballet, cere-
manial banquet and the convention
al interchange of speeches. AS
result of the conference decision
was reached to make every possible
effort to moderate the excited Nor
wegian sentiment and continue the
three Scandinavian kingdoms in the
path of joint neutrality.
King Gustave returned to Stock
holm and launched the suggestion
of a conference of the three kings,
accompanied by the premiers and
foreign ministers at Christiana,
which was accepted, the Norwe-
gians being fattered with the
thought of the first visit from a
Swedish monarch in the Norwegian
capital since the separation of the
two countries.
It is difficult to judge how far
Germany was actuated in its step by
genuine fear of Norwegian action,
how far by desire to force Norway
into toning down its strongly anti
German sentiment and wave the
"big stick over the three countries
during the pending negotiations
with the United States and the en-
tente regarding the embargo, and
thereby get as good bargain as
possible for Germany.
A Danish member of the German
has just visited Norway
on what can undoubtedly be de-
scribed as a pacifying mission and