The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-08-13
SITUATION IN SWEDEN
TOLD BY Won W|EGAAD
BY KARL Fl. Won wIEGAND,

New York. Aug i2.--"If the Amer
lean people expect that Sweden ca,
be forced to break with Germany and
enter the war with all its miseries
they do not know Sweden's situation
and will be disappointed" This Il
the statement made to me in Stock
| holm by a high official the day lef
| for America.
1T is quite impossible--yes quit
impossible" be said with emphasis
You do not understand the Difficult
ties of our position between tive
fires. Disagreed as they may be or
some points. the Swedish people are
IN absolute accord and unity To pre-
serve our neutrality to the end of the
war and unalterably opposed to en-
tering the war. Even the opposition
OF so-called Pro-Ally party, which Is
very strong in Sweden. does not wan,
To enter the war, and on that point
is in accord with the government
only one thing can bring Sweden into
this conflict and that is, If one or the
other side attacks or invades us That
7 and that alone. With our difficulties
and misertes already great. with the
I horrors OF war so close before our
Jes for three years. we would be
nothing short of madmen TO plunge
INTO this conflict which could only in
crease. not diminish. our miseries and
suherings and in which Sweden could
only lose aud gain nothing.
I II | were permitted to quote the
! othciai by name. the Importance OF
me statement would be seen. But he
insisted that he was talking privately
and not officially touched upon
! Sweden breaking relations with Ger
! many or closing her borders to the
! central empires ImpossibIe-quite
! impossible. We are too dependent
Upon Germany for certain things, es-
! pecially coal--things We must have to
! live"
AS TO Tripartite Agreement.
Inc question, much talked about in
Europe, whether an absolute agree
: ment exists between the three Scan
olnaNian countries to jointly main
tain neutrality and not to act sinsly,
the official declined to discuss That
some such agreement. whether only
gentlemen's agreement" or some
thing more formal, does exist, / was
assured in well-informed circles. both
! IN Copenhagen and in Stockholm
sweden with an effective army as
large as that of both Norway and
| denmark. undoubtedly better equip
ped and far better supplied with guns
| ana ammunition than either. can h..
dinaVian situation. Danish officials
said TO practically dominate the scar
frankly told me that Denmark would
last about two weeks if il entered the
war. against Germany. even in the
| present stage. without other assist
ance. They professed 10 believe that
Denmark's entrance in the war could
only serve to strengthen Germany's
position strategically and help her out
greatly in the matter of food
Sweden can put an effective army OF
100000 men in the field. In organiza-
ton, drill. discipline. equipment and
appearance. they remind one strongly
or the German army. The Swedish
troops make an excellent impression.
IT artillery and in aviation. the Swe-
DISH army is so far ahead OF the Danes
ana the Norwegians. that there is no
comparison 1t is easy to see why
Norway and Denmark can hardly
make so vital a move as entering h.
war without knowing what Sweden
would do
asked the high government official
Nhom have quoted. TO explain TO me
Sweden's position. He turned to his
desk and drew out a mass of official
data and figures. which Is explained
and cited in detail The following are
some of the official figures and data
given me: -,
Swcden's Chief Needs.
The chief scarcities in Sweden are
N''N'f W tiFdt anu icuuGTF' SWeuGn re-
qnires 400. 900 to 4bo. 900 tons OF coal
per month to keep her railways and
industries running and for other do
nestle purposes. Before the war bv
far the greater part of her coal came
from England. Since the war, and es-
pecially after the beginning Of sub
marine war, she has had to rely on
Germany.
In 1911 sweden imported from Eng
la ~
as against only f17,212 tons from Ger
many. In 1914 from England 46s2.50f
tons as against 335, 1872 from GERMANY
In 1915 Swedens coal supply from
England had dropped by one half. In
that year she imported 2173634 tons
% all varieties of coal and coke from
England as against 2.S15,730 tons
from Germany. In 1915 from r'r 4
l,707,319 tons as against 4.3so57s
from Germany. This year no coal
whatever was obtained from England
In the months OF February and March
when the ruthless submarine cam
paign began. a small amount in April
and May and little more in June
The present agreement between Swe-
den and Germany calls for mini
mum of 10000 tons of coal per
month. The Germans have fulfilled
their agreement. This together with
May and June is about one half Of
the amount required
Would Have to Suspend.
Were Sweden not obtaining any
coal from Germany. the street rail-
ways and private railways in the
country would have to suspend with
in one month. the state railway sys-
tenn within three months, which to-
Eether with industries which would
have to shut down in consequence
would throw more than a quarter of
a million men out of employment.
This is the statement made to me
upon the basis of figures shown. About
5000 men are employed In the Swe-
dish ore fields and 1900 in the paper
pulp industry, English coal Is com
handing a price of 270 shillings per
ton in Stockholm as against German
coal at so shillings.
That Sweden is exporting large
quantities OF iron ore to Germany.