Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1917-09-13

Since then conditions have not inn
proved, and the government has
maintained o peculiarly Facilitating
policy. while Its attitude has REQUIRED
consistent explanation.
The latest action Of a Swedish dip
lomat who is being excused by his
foreign minister on the Unacceptable
grounds Of ignorance and good
faith" may very well bring free
mems bl0odSto the very boiling point.
Whatever happens. Sweden will not
become the enemy of the allies with
the consent of her people.
Wider Aspects of the Case.
But there are other serious phases
of the situation as it has existed since
the disclosures made last week by the
United States government.
If Sweden, through her government,
goes to war as an ally of Germany,
she will automatically become the
enemy of Denmark and Norway,
selves unable to maintain their .neu-
trality in view of a declaration of war
by or against Sweden.
It is true that no mutually binding
defense treaties between the three
northern countries have ever been pub
lished but it is likewise a fact that GER
tain agreements, more or less formal,
dIc III cAlSt0ICG, IudhlIS II lIlCuIflUCIlC
upon each OF the nations to help the
others in case Of threatening invasion
by an enemy.
Ever since the memorable kings
conference in Malmoe late in the year
1914, frequent meetings have been
held by the rulers and the foreign
ministers Of the Scandinavian coun-
tries, and the difficulties Of scandina-
via have been discussed while certain
policies were formulated. It is note
worthy that the communicates con-
tanning the gist Of the negotiations
were always exceedingly brief and
comparatively unimportant.
The public was excluded from
knowledge of the events which actu-
ally took place in the council rooms.
but Information leaked out from time
to time, indicating that far-reaching
agreements had been made.
Sweden VS.. Denmark-NOrway.
A war between Sweden and Dem
mark-Norway would certainly be no
new occurrence. Time n again Swed-
ish rulers have waged war against
their Scandinavian neighbors, and as
late as 1905 g serious armed conflict
was brewing between Sweden and
Norway on account Of the latter coun-
try's decision to become an independ-
emit nation. When the conflict came
to naught it was chiefly due to the
interference of the late King Edward
VII. of Great Britain, according to
well informed statesmen in both
countries.
Those who have lived or travelled
much in the three northern countries
have observed, in a general way, that
a considerable anti-Swedish sentiment
is apparent among the Danes and the
Norwegians. Such a sentiment is gen
orally chauvinisticland condemnable
and does very little credit to the peo-
pies i%ndulging in hatred of other ma
tons. Intolerance of this nature is
nearly always due to the prejudice of
the unthinking masses and car hardly
yer be justified.
Nevertheless, it is a fact that the
Swedes are not the favorites of Danes
and Norwegians. They see clearly
enough all the virtues of the stately
and refined Swedish nation, but there
is an old tradition which it seems inn
possible to live down. this, namely,
that the Swedes r tricky"
Sentiment in Sweden.
The Swedes, on the other hand, do
not waste their love or Danes and
Norwegians. They are inclined to look
with haughtiness. and superior pride
on the two other nations, and they
constantly remind the world Of their
glorious history which is rep1ete with
narratives about great statesmen and
warriors, such as Gustaf Vasa, Gustaf
Adolph, Charles Gustaf x, and Charles
XII. Time and again Swedish armies
v~anquished the hosts of the Danes
and Norwegians, but rarely did the
Swedes suffer defeat at the hands Of
their Scandinavian opponents.
There is a marked difference in the
national traits of the Swedes and those
of the other northerners, and popular
tradition has 1t that 1t fs tmpossihle
for a Dane or a Norwegian to get on
intimate terms with "a Swede. OF
course, such a tradition Is as. fallacious
as most popular beliefs and is mem
toned In this connection simply to in
dictate the trend Of public opinion.
United They Standardized They
Despite the absence Of hearty
friendship between the Scandinavian
peoples, the governments quite early
in the war realized that the only sal
walton Of their countries should be
sought in an united stand toward the
rest OF the world. The affection be-
tween Danes and Norwegfans, while
not particularly enthusiastic, was
more genuine than that between the
Swedes and Danes or between, es-
pecta1ty the Swedes and the Norwe-
sfars- Setting aside. however, all
such considerations, the governments
decided TO unity their foreign policies
fcr 3 purpose of making a show of
the neutrality of either one of the
countries should be violated.
II u be emphasized that no one
mad thought that the most serious
violation of neutrality should be COM
mitted by one of the parties to the