The L'Anse sentinel., 1917-06-16
BRIEFS FROM OLD COUNTRY
Interesting Items From the Three
Great Kingdoms Of the North, Sc
lected for Scandinavians and
Their Descendants.
BY MARTIN w. oDLAND.
Sweden.

upou SWeueH pOllcy OF neutTailty
which have recently appeared in Ger
man newspapers. These attacks
seem to have been inspired by disap-
pointment on the part of the writers
that Sweden has not joined the cause
OF the central powers, for there is no
question but that many German poll
ticians and diplomats confidently ex-
pected Sweden to make such move
earlier in the war. Prominent among
those who have criticized Swedens
policy is Prince zu Loewenstein. who
published in the Greater Germany"
an article which attracted wide at
tentiOn in both Sweden and other
countries. He lays the lash upon
Sweden for permitting the allies to
ship supplies 70 Russia via Sweden,
holding that il Russia had been unable
to obtain supplies In this manner she
would have been forced TO submission.
Coutlnuing he uses this language: AT
the beginning Sweden offered some re-
sistance to the plans of the allies, but
the British diplomats did not find
much difficulty I'm overcoming the ap-
prehenSion of the Swedes. The siren
strains Of the allied government were
too much for them. Sweden has, be-
cause of her greed for money, COM
pletely forgotten her past and insult
I'd tier ancestors who had fallen during
Sweden's struggle against Russian ny
gression. The reason for this change
Is only greediness, short-sighted-
ness, which must cause contempt"
Prince zu Loewenstein sums up the
view of the Swedes In the following
way: Business is business. The
Germans will defeat the Russians. In
this way we will be able both to earn
much money during the war and to Sc
cure future protection against Russia,
defeated by Germany" Such is the
view of German writer, representing
a very influential part of the German
nation. No wonder that Sweden,
which has been strictly neutral from
the first day of the war. is indignant
at such insults and begins to feel less
und less sympathy for Germany, "the
protector of all the small Teutonic
nations" Prince Zu Loewenstein
points out strongly that his article is
based upon observations made ~
prominent Scandinavians. He thinks
that the geographical position of
Sweden us well as her history ought to
have created the necessity Of an alli-
ance between that country and Ger
many. "When Norway In the year
1905 liberated herself, with the sup
port of Great Britain, from her union
with Sweden" says the German
prince, there was only one way open
to the latter country-to join the Teu-
tonic powers. But the greediness of
the Swedes has tempted them to adopt
policy working against their own
Culture. Leading men Of all three pO-
litical parties in Sweden-from the
extreme conservatives to the extreme
socialists-among whom are Admiral
Lindman. minister of foreign affairs
NJ. Wallenberg. former minister of for
eign affairs; Or. Nils Wohlin, Prof.
Eli +. Heckscher and NJ. Branting, the
leader of the Social Democratic party,
have all taken the same point of view
that the economic opportunities
must be used regardless of all other
consideration and when this use con-
sists of and cannot consist of anything
else than to furnish Russia, via the
Swedish means Of communication,
with food and everything else neces-
sary for the continuation of the war. II
means that Sweden is turning totally
away from the central powers and to-
ward the allies-a breach In Swedish
history, Swedish progress and ira
dition." The German government Is
already aware Of the serious mistake
made I'm permitting publication of
Prince zu Loewenstein's article. In
the official North German Gazette" I
the German author Erich Lilienthal,
who Is especially well posted on Scan
dinavian affairs, has recently pub
lished an article, undoubtedly inspired
by the German government. seeking to
mitigate Loewenstein's arguments.
imctor Thulin, the well-known |
Swedish aviator, has returned to
Sweden from America, where he made |
a study Of American airplanes and avi-
alton methods. He reports that the
American flying machines are modelled
after the European makes and he Is
of the opinion that the American avl-
ators are not as skillful as those Of
Europe.
The annual meeting Of Nordmands-
forbunJet will be held at Christiania
June 81, and as this will be the tenth
anniversary Of the founding Of the
society special efforts will be put forth
to make the meeting an important
event. 1t is expected that large num-
ber of Scandinavians from foreign
lands will be In attendance.
The government has issued an order
prohibiting the expectation of fine
steel used In the manufacture Of saws
sud high-grade machinery.