The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-04-13
Sweden Reported to Be Bring
ing Pressure on Russia, at
Instance Of Germany
Won BERNSTORFF NOW
CERMANY'S ENVOY AT
SWEDISH CAPITAL
Tangible Developments Are
Looked For In Few Days.
Central Powers Bent on Get.
ting Early Conference
tBy International News servlce.)


Amsterdam. April photographs
and cables buzzed with many and
manifold rumors of peace today. con-
trasting curiously with dispatches
from the west front. where the big
gest battle of the war Is on.
Up TO a late hour tonight searching
Inquiries in official and semi-officia!
quarters had failed to reveal the
slightest foundation in fact for the
mass of peace reports. Still these
Reports persisted IN surcharging the
atmosphere with intense expectancy.
The peace furry began early this
Morning. and in quick succession Ger
many. Austria and Bulgaria were re-
ported to have set loose kites" Then
the ropes name was mentioned as n
possible mediator, Promptly there
came word from Rome that the holy
father was keeping aloor from al
peace agitation for the present
Contrary Reports.
counteractiug the pacific trend OF
the news were besides the descrip-
lions or the titanic struggle in the
west. @4eports OF a possible further
said to bc highly agitated over all
legged attempts to stir UP revolt
ssgain A1fonso's reign. was re-
ported to have dismissed the Brit
Ash ambassador and TO be preparing
for war. AZ the same time the runor
OF forthcoming Swedish Intervention
on the central powers side was re-
peated. In the face of Sweden's off,
cial declaration of neutrality.
An additional sign that peace spec
ulation is in the air. dispatches from
London told Of Lord Bryce's plan for
n league to enforce peace, quoting
the former am bassador to the United
states as saying that up to now
the time for publication had not
seemed ripe.
Three Theories Advanced.
Out OF the maze of conflicting peace
rumors the following three theories
were pieced together by close students
Of the situation:
& /. That Sweden, while strictly neu-
trail and determined to remain so. is
exerting pressure upon Russia in the
interest of peace. This pressure Is
described by some observers as pos
Lbly more unconscious than direct.
Russia. in her present more or less
chaotic circumstances. is known to
look upon pcS-ADlt
lion as upon sword OF Damocles
which. added To the expected Ger
man drive in the East. would have a
crushing effect. Sweden's yearning
for restoration of her lost provinces"
on the Baltic llttoral has has been
strengthened In proportion to Ger
man successes in Russia. Nor must
Il be overlooked, one neutral diplo-
mat pointed out, that Germany's en-
yoy at Stockholm now is Count Won
Bernstorff past master of diplomacy.
Bulgaria More Than willing.
2. Bulgaria is universally regarded
a. more than willing for peace, pro-
v1ded she gets Macedonia. The idea
Of a Bulgarian separate peace is
scoffed at by those in a position to
know. But pressure upon Russia from
Bulgaria II 1t is being exerted, as
rumor has it, is expected TO have tell
ing effects.
3. With almost the entire Western
hemisphere arrayed against her. hold
ing sinister prospects for after-war-
trade. Germany Is believed to be ready
to strain every nerve to bring about
some basis upon which an understand
ing may be reached. In these efforts
she Is finding an energetic helpmate
in Austria-Hungary. The central pow
ers are said to be striving tooth and
nail for the convocation OF con-
ference with entente emissaries.
More peace reports are looked for
They may soon be more than RE-
ports