Evening star., 1917-09-10

doubtedly public opinion in Argentina
will go far toward determining that
point. and there has not been time for
it to crystallize.
To Sweden. however, the United
States. and its allies as well. looks for
action which will purge the Swedish
government and the Stockholm foreign
ONCE of the stigma of knowingly hav-
ing been Germany'S tool in her newest
intrigue.
American officials would like to be-
lieve that Sweden officially discounte-
nances any such encroachments on her
neutrality: that the guilt was personal
to some particular officials. or possibly
that Sweden's legation in Argentina
was imposed upon by Luxburg and sup
posed that at the worst II was lending
the inviolability of its diplomatic privi-
leges to an attempt to preserve peace
rather than to recommendations that
Argentine ships and seamen be de-
stroyed without leaving any traces.
Officials and diplomats entertain tho
possibility that the legation may have
transmitted LuxburEs dispatches with
out knowing their exact contents. TAX
ing the German charges word that they
were no breach of Sweden's obligation
to Argentina. They also entertain the
possibility that Luxburg, with diplo-
macy of which the world has learned
more since German secrets began To
leak out may have told Count Lowen.
the Swedish minister. one thing and
written another in his dispatches.
Must Show Good Faith.
whatever becomes the accepted ex-
PLANTATION, officials and diplomats here
are unanimous in their belief that Swe-
den must disavow any participation or
responsibility and take appropriate
steps to show her good faith.
That may be difficult because of the
internal situation in Sweden. where
the upper circles are admittedly pro-
German. because of the fact that Swe-
den militarily weak nation, lies at
the mercy of Germany at her borders
and also because Sweden may wish to
adopt one course while Germany may
wish her to take another.
1t is thoroughly understood that in
Stockholm the pro-German classes are
the court, the professors in the uni
versities. the bankers. the officers or
the army and the journalists. The most
intense Germanophile is the queen. who
is cousin of the kaiser while the
king has little to say. but. in spite of
contrary opinion, at heart favors the
main, neutral. but the lavish bestowal
of reward in the shape Of orders and
decorations has won over certain
officials to the German side.
The existence of active German
propa ganda in Sweden and Norway
dates back before the beginning of the
war when the fear of Russia was used
with the Swedes to such an extent that
the great mas oi the peopie were pro-
German. 4
In spite ST the fact that the propa-
redoubled their efforts after
war broke out and pointed to the fact
that Englan nd and France were arrayed
with Sweden's hereditary enemy. the
sentiment changed gradually until.
when there was no further fear of
Russia, the mass of the people sided
with the allies.
Bound to Maintain Neutrality.
Now Sweden is bound to maintain
her neutrality, for it is almost univer-
SALLY believed that Sweden would be
The greater number of the Swedish
people are counted liberals and social
lists, with every tradition against mon
archy as illustrated by Germany.
allies, however. they feel their help
essness and should Germany be an
taRonized to the point of armed hos
tilfty Sweden would be at her mercy.
not an allied warship in the Baltic, and
he coasts of Sweden could be quickly
II is recalled by diplomats here that
Count Won Bernstorn. former German
ambassador to the United States. re-
hat connection they recall that much
diplomatic activity bearing a German
lavor has emanated from the Swedish
.apital which talks easily with Berlin
IN the long-distance telephone.
The exact knowledge which the
;wedisn government had in the affair
will be watched here particularly for
What effect it shows on the people of
sweden. What may come of 1t will be
determined entirely by developments.
n the meantime the United States, for
me, expects Sweden to show her good