The Washington herald., 1917-06-18
SMALLER NEUTRALS
ANGRY AT GERMANY
Spain. Norway. Sweden, Denmark,
Holland and Argentine for Allies.
BY JOHN L. BALDERsToN.
toopyrisht, III, by the Mcclure NswsFsper
RNndicnial

BY 1OhN bALDhAASTON.
iCopyright, 1917, By the Mcclure NsWSaper
syndicateJ
London. May 25 (by. maiD.-Most OF
the important neutrals remaining in
the world are coming nearer to the
point OF rupture with Germany, II
the opinions of the newspapermen
representing those countries in Lon
don are trustworthy. In giving brief
statements from correspondents OF
Dutch, Norwegian, Argentinian, Dam
ish. Swedish. and Spanish papers, /
may say that there Is another reason
neutral diplomats why the truth about
national opinion Is to be sought in
newspaper rather than in diplomatic
circles. The reason Is that in my
experience newspapermen working
abroad generally keep In touch with
home sentiment, and the diplomats
John c. Van der veer, Of Holland,
said: "Our press points out that the
geographical position OF Holland diff
fers profoundly from the position Of
the United States. This is quite true.
harm, thanks to the British navy. But
she can do Holland much harm, and
1 am as anxious az any other Dutch
man to spare my country the fate of
Belgium. Serbia, and Rumania. l
am thinking not less OF our country's
Is lndI maintained III
we say to the German bully, You did
US grievous wrong and you propose to
do us much more grievous wrong but
we dare not resist your The moment
has arrived for a league OF all civil
lied nations against the only enemy
Of mankind. To maintain neutrality
any longer IL worse than pusillani-
nous"
Too Few, Not Too Proud.
N. Axel Gerfalk, OF Denmark, said:
Denmark has not been 50 careful
geographical position. For US to fol-
low President Wilson's lead would
mean entire destruction, The recall
OF the Danish Minister in Berlin would
be considered an unfriendly act and
afford a welcome pretext for occupy
ing and plundering Denmark. That
would not shorten the war; 1t would
prolong it We are not too proud to
hight. but too few. With an army Of
1900 men Denmark could not AFFORD
any policy other than q strictly neu-
trail one. Her days Of heroic attitudes
are over. That does not prevent prac-
tically every Dane from praying for
the victory of the two countries Den
mark loves the most-England and
France"
F. Henriksson, OF Sweden. said:
General opinion Is, without question.
III Lull WIN lIlC dCllOh OI
President Wilson. The United States
during the war has been looked upon
by the smaller neutral countries, per-
haps in particular by Scandinavia, as
the mainstay of international law and
neutral rights. But 1t cannot be ex-
pected at this time of day that the
neutral states bordering on Germany
should follow the example OF the
United States. They will continue to
do all in their power to keep out OF
the conflict. Their entry into it would
not serve civilization and humanity.
but might, on the contrary, provide
opportunity to prolong the struggle.
Their standing out, with opinion rous-
ed to indignation against Germany, at
the present moment can only serve
humanity. I have just returned from
some weeks in the Scandinavian coun-
tries, and found the view generally
held that Germany Is acting in a state
OF depression, as internal conditions,
at any rate in Northern Germany.
are lamentable, with semi-starvation
prevalent"
Luis Tamini, of the Argentine Re-
public. said: The mass OF the Ar
gentine nation Of S,OO0,COO people are
with the allies, and 1 have not the
least doubt that they would join to-
morrow the United States against Ger
many II they mad a leader in the
foreign office; but they have none"
Nils kittelsen. OF Norway. said:
Norway has a population in the
United States almost as large as its
own. The relations between the two
countries have therefore always been
most friendly. But still 1 think our
government will not follow the eX-
ample Of the United States. The Kai-
ser has learned that he cannot bully
Norway. He blockaded our capital
and sent Zeppelins over our coast. but
the orHegians never flinched. Most
OF the Norwegian sailors belong to the
best stock in the country. Norway is
peace-loving and does not want to
have any quarrel with anybody, but
the Norwegian sailor loves a tight,
whether with the wild seas or With a
desperate bully. He does not think
is necessary that for his sake his wife
and children should suffer from a
war"
England Spnin's Best Customer.
Salvador de Maradiaga, of Spain,
said: The threatened interruption OF
Spanish trade with England is rightly
viewed as no less than a national
toner and provider. The stoppage OF
British imports OF coal would mean
ruin and starvation for millions of
our working population. 1t Is only
with ore and metals, lead, silver, py-
rifles. and copper, that Spain can pay
ASA fNaJ lhlPOlASt anu IL
these metals cannot be conveyed to
Britain whole regions OF the most
populous and prosperous parts of
Spain will be exposed to the danger
Of wholesale unemployment. The east
and southeast of Spain are almost
exclusively engaged in the production
of fruit, most of which is exported
to England. Owing to scarcity Of ship
ping more than 60 per cent of the
orange harvest is stil in the Spanish
ports waiting shipment.
What with such petty tyrannies as
refusing safe-conduct to q cargo of
oranges because they bore the trade
marks OF Jellicoes' and Kitchener
the whole coast of Spain has been
reused to Indignation by the Germans.
Matters are not so simple in Madrid.
The liberal and radical press as we'll
as the moderate conservatives under
stand the national duty-Quiet but firm
resistance, the defense Of the rights
Of Spain by all means. But Madrid is
also the metropolis of the pro-German
dark forces OF the country, and they
are determined to put neutrality over
all, knowing that there is no depart
ure from neutrality except on the side
of the allies. But they have a thank
less task. Both the body and soul
of Spain are threatened by Germany,
and the government knows that what