The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1917-10-17
SWEDEN WANTS
SEIZED PAPERS
Minister Ekengren Appeals
to Secretary of State
Lansing
ARE NOW HELD IN
BRITISH EMBASSY
Claim Made That They APP
ply Only to Harmless
Statistics

Washington, ID. c., Oct. Nv. A. +
Ekengren, the Swedish minister, cam,
post haste to the state department yes
terday to ascertain if something could
not be done to rescue the secrets of the
seized diplomatic pouches now held in
the British embassy here, which were re-
Gently intercepted at Halifax. 1t is un.
derstood that Mr. Ekengren still con.
tends that the pouches contain only
harmless statistical data destined to aid
Sweden in negotiating with Herbert c.
Hoover, the American food administra-
tor, over the embargo.
According to the Swedish minister it
is a question of principle which prompts
him to fight against permitting the con
tents of these pouches to be seen by rep
resentatives of the entente.
Secretary Lansing, when asked about
the matter yesterday said that officially
it concerned the British government and
the government of Sweden and that con
sequently he did not feel at liberty to
discuss it. This government is, of course,
vitality concerned in the matter, as are
all the entente governments, but it is
felt that the British authorities will be
well able to handle the situation in the
interests of all.
The fact that these packages bag
and several mysterious looking boxes
were packed at Stockholm before the
Swedish government knew that its col
fusion with Germany had been discovered
by Secretary Lansing makes it probable,
it is explained, that some unneutral mat
ter may have been included with the
statistical data by mistake"
1t is recalled that Count Won Bern
storff, the former German ambassador, |
steadfastly asserted that the damning |
Won Igel papers were only routine EN-
bassy business and should therefore be
returned to him without examination
Counsellor Frank L. Polk of the state de-
partment informed Won Bernstorff that
all the papers which he cared to identify
sentative would be cheerfully handed
over to him. Won Bernstorff never iden-
titled any of the papers, although he
made determined fight to get them
back without disclosing their contents
The widespread ramifications of the
German intrigues therein explained were {
only recently made public by the state
department.
Some Swedish officials declared yester-
lay that Swedens economic mission l
might be withdrawn from Washington
f the packages held by the British EN- A
,assy were not surrendered The mem t
,ers of the mission are indignant also b
because they are denied the privilege of t
aiding their government in code.
In discussing the suggestion that there "
'ught to be no objection to opening the t
packages in the presence of British off u
ials if they were harmless" one of II
he Swedes said:
THAT is an indignity to which we will "
lot submit. 1t is absolutely essential II
o the success of our negotiations with CT
he American war trade board that we n
conidentially with the m
swedish foreign office" 81
The packages were part of the effects as
f DIR. Hjalmar Lundovohm, a Swedish W
ourier, who was on his way to Wash q
lgton They were consigned to Minis dt
er Ekengren.
When the steamship on which DR.. Lun- dc
ovohm sailed reached Halifax the i'm "
lunity granted Swedish diplomatic ex- 81
lange had been curtailed considerably II
nd orders had been received from Lon m
on for careful examination of the &c
'urier's baggage. The pouch and boxes m
ere seized and sealed. Upon the re- w
lest of Secretary Lansing the packages Sc
ere brought here, but they still remain
British custody. wi