Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1917-06-20
SWEDEN.

ions are extensive, said that Tor days
the Swedish government allowed no
ships TO clear from GOthenburg for
England or America. The ship insur-
ance institutions were forbidden to
this measure was twofOld. The first
object was to obtain from England a
more liberal export of supplies to
Sweden. and the second was to in
fiuence America to permit the loading
of the Swedish ships now lying empty
10 the American harbors. Such reprls-
ais all along have been Sweden's most
efficaciOus measures for the protection
OF Its interests. The government also
has made the Issue of permits for the
transfer through Sweden of English
goods destined TO Russia. the basis
for delivery of English and American
goods to Sweden When that bargain
seemed TO be hanging FIRE. Sweden sim
ply said: Very well, this is our coun-
try and we will do what we please
with IL and without reciprocal ar
engagements we certainly will not
make 1t runway for goods consigned
to Russia. Let us have some of your
stuff or we will not pass your Russian
consignments." Consequently, there
were periods when the docks and the
freight depots ON the eastern border
of Sweden were piled high with goods
awaiting the concessions from Eng
land which would win their release. On
one occasion, when coffee famine
was threatened, the government held
up 100000 bags of coffee which was
consigned by foreign shippers TO Rus
STA and made the permission for the
releasing of the coffee conditional up
on being allowed to buy for Sweden
10000 of the 100000 bags. This bar
gain was made On another occasion
the government made permission to
an American firm to send 100000 tons
Of leather into russia conditional up
on that firms bringing into Sweden
from Finland and selling 70 Sweden
100000 IONS Of oil cake The leather
was held up for five months, until this
was done. although it had been ship
ish government agents. The leather
was worth $500. 900. Something deep
ar than the consciousness of having
the upper hand In the traffic arrange
ments sustains Sweden in these meth
DDS. This is nothing less than the
peoples faith in their nations mill
tary strength and their confidence in
their ability to play the trump card
in the game of international politics.
Such views are only limited, but they
none the less fill the national mind.
You get the whole story when you hear
broad backed. square chinned and
keen eyed Stockholm business man
say: Sweden neither wishes nor ex-
poets to- get into the war. but we will
let the powers who think they can re-
strict imports to US to point where
it is endangering the nourishment of
our people consider what would hap
pen II Sweden put 100000 men on the
German front in Russia. thus permit
ting the Germans to make bigger con-
centrations in France"
Hjalmar Branting. the leader OF the
Swedish Social Democrats, Is hailed
by the French press as the man VINO
has more than any other contributed
TO the defeat up 10 the present time
Of all the German plans for separate
peace with Russia. Humanite says
in an editorial 'that the clear-sighted
leader of the Swedish socialists. who
is a friend Of the allies because OF
their just cause, has saved the Rus
sian revoIutiOnaries from the abyss
Of a separate peace with Germany" In
L'Evenement Alexandra Varennes, So
csaliSt member of the French chamber
of deputies, emphasizes that the
democracy of Branting is fighting
against the common foe for liberty and
peace" lie Gaulios, the influential or
gan of the French conservatists, says
''that the Russian working mems dele
gates were on the brink of being
caught In the trap Of a separate peace
with Germany when Branting inter
~ened and warded off the impending
danger"
The Karolinska Association of Stock
holm has engaged Prof J. KolmOdln to
make trip to Constantinople nexf
fall for the purpose of studying the
archives of the city with regard to
the life and activity of King Kari XII
during his stay in Turkey. A rich
man whose name Is not published has
offered 10 pay the expenses of the
work TO he performed by Professor
KOlmodin.
The value of real estate In Stock
holm Increased at the rate of $25 per
inhabitaut from 1918 to 1916. At the
same time the taxable income In
creased about * per cent
In view OF numerous complaints
about the food served in the army of
Sweden. General Morcke of the first
army division stated in an interview
that according to his knowledge most
of the complaints were unwarranted.
While making tours of inspection dur
Ing his service as member of the
cabinet he never found any good cause
for criticism. He would even risk the
assertion that no army In the whole
world is better fed than that of Swe-
den. If there were any real grievances
they were surely limited to Il very few
regiments.