The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1917-09-11
SWEDEN is
SUSPECTED
OF Betraying United States
Ships to the German
Government
REVELATIONS
ARE EXPECTED
Germany Has Known of All
Important Movements
of Vessels

Washington D. G., Sept. 1.-THE pos
sibility of further revelations in con
nection with the exposure of Sweden's
bogus neutrality was limited at yester-
day.
1t was admitted by high official OF
the state department that Germany may
have obtained her advance tips concern
inc the movement of American naval
and military contingents from de-
spatehes which German agents were able
TO forward to Berlin through Swedish
diplomatic channels.
Ii was recalled in this connection that
the Germans were so intimately advised
as to the movements of the American
destroyer fotlla as to be able to lay
mines outside the British port to which
the fotilla was sent on its initial trip
to the war zone.
They were so accurately posted as to
the movements of the first installment
of troops in the Pershing expedition as
to be able TO have submarines lying in
the path of the transports half way
across the Atlantic ocean.
Secretary of State Lansing yesterday
was careful not to be placed in the posi-
ton of passing final judgment on the
sensational disclosures before the Swed-
ish government had been given a chance
to explain why its legation at Buenos
Aires was undertaking to forward for
Count Luxburg, the German charge, di-
reetions to the Berlin government about
sinking Argentine ships without a.
trace being left of them
This was made certain, however: Swe
den will not be allowed to rely on the
excuse, limited at by Baron Akerheilm,
charge d'affaires of the Swedish lega
ton here, that Sweden did not know of
the contents of the Luxburg message.
One of the obligations of neutrality
is that neutral government shall not
undertake to transmit messages for a
belligerent unless it satisfies itself abso
lutely that the message is a proper one.
When the United States, for example, |
was undertaking TO transmit for Count |
Won Bernstorff wireless messages or 9th |
err communications to his government, |
the state department not only required I
the German ambassador to supply it
with a copy of the code in which the
communications were sent, but wherever
it might be suspicious it even rewrote
the message to be sure that no hidden
was sought to be conveyed.
For Sweden to say that the Swedish
legation at Buenos Aires or the Stock
holm foreign Office did not know what
the messages contained, it is pointed
out, simply magnifies her otfense.
Argentina was in controversy with
Germany over the submarine issue. Ger
many was making certain promises or
lolding out certain assurances. At the
same time the German minister at Bue.
nos Aires was advising his government
hat the Argentine foreign minister was {
"a notorious ass" and suggesting that
n sinking additional Argentine vessels
he submarines should see to it that (
no trace" be left of any evidence of the
inkings.
And Sweden, a neutral country and !
presumably friendly to Argentina, was s
these advices. T
Thus the disposition here in official s
uartcrs is to await the joining of the c
ssue between Argentina and Sweden, it \
eing assumed, of course. that from the
allure of the messages disclosed Argen
ina will realize the worthlessness of
he pledges which Germany gave her !,
nd proceed to sever relations with that
ountry. j.
But beyond the issue between Argen- !.
ina and Sweden, the American govern
tent is at one with the other allies in r.
ceiling that Sweden's offense is also
gainst the allies generally and de- y
lands an explanation.
No satisfactory settlement of the incl r.
emit can possibly be made. it was fatty :
.ated. that does not have the approval r
the United States and the other allies.
How the United States obtained the
formation is matter which the state r.
apartment viii not in any way discuss.
is suggeted in some quarters that -
reat Britain may have been the first to =
tercept the messages, in view of the
ct that she controls the cables through \
hich the messages must have been sent. Sc