Evening star., 1917-11-28
SCANDINAVIA KINGS
FEAR BERLIN THREAT
Germans to Occupy Denmark,
if Norway Aids the
Allies.
RULERS IN CONFERENCE

| COPENHAGEN, November 2S.-Behlnd
1.-The meeting of the Scandinavian mon
tarchs and ministers at Christiania this
week lies the fear, unfounded though
lit may be, of Norways entry into the
|war and of the German menace that
| in this case she should feel called upon
to occupy Denmark as a counter meas
ure.
| The Associated Press learns from
responsible source that the conference
which was arranged in consequence OF
an intimation from Germany that the
growth of anti-German sentiment In
Norway. particularly after the sinking
| of the convoy in the North sea by
German cruisers, is being followed with
concern by Germany and that 1t is
feared that Norway might be I'M
i PEELED. either by excited public opin-
ion or pressure from the allied SIDE
i, to enter the struggle at least to the
point of granting a naval base to Eng
| land and the United States, in Which
event Germany would feel called upon
| to seize a corresponding base In Den
mark.
German Stand Confirmed.
Upon the receipt of this information
at Copenhagen, word was hurriedly
| sent to King Gustave OF Sweden, and
Denmarks most prominent ntzen.
President Andersen of the Danish East
Asiatic Company, who is high in the
confidence OF Berlin, as well as Lon
don, was dispatched to Berlin to verify
the report, and. If possible, to change
\ the German attitude.
Mr.. Andersen conferred with DR.. Won
Kuehlmann. secretary for foreign az
| fairs, at Berlin. and he confirmed the
report, adding that in consequence OF
| the Italian and Russian developments.
i Z hn elements
| were again in the saddle in Germany
| and exerting influence against which
| the foreign office. with its more mod
! crate views, found it most difficult to
| contend.
Would Placate Norway.
| King Gustave came to Copenhagen
and spent a day in conference with
King Christian PRESIDENT IT, andersen
matter of the conferences being COW
cred by a display OF gala performances.
| an opera ballet, ceremonial banquet
speeches. AS result of the confer
| ence decision was reached to make
| every possible effort to moderate the
| excited Norwegian sentiment and con-
| tinue the three Scandinavian kingdoms
| In the path Of joint neutrality.
| King Gustave returned to Stockholm
| and launched the suggestion OF con-
| ference OF the three kings. accom-
L
ministers, at Christiania, which was
| accepted. the Norwegians being fiat
! tered with the thought OF the first visit
from a Swedish monarch in the Nor
4 wegian capital since the separation OF
The two countries.
| Reports Are Discounted.
It is difficult to Judge how far Ger
many was actuated In its step by gen.
uine fear of Norwegian action, how far
by desire to force Norway into toning
down its strongly anti-German senti-
| ment and wave the big stick" over
| the three countries during the pending
| negotiations with the United States and
the entente regarding the embargo. and
| thereby get as good a bargain as pos
| sible for Germany. On the one hand,
| Danes in high position in the secret
with whom the correspondent discussed
| the subject, considered 1t utterly out
of the question that Norway of her
own accord would abandon neutrality,
| and one Of them said he attached no
| importance to the sporadic reports of
American or British Intention to seize
a base in Norway to better combat the
German submarines
War Sentiment Negligible.
Prominent Norwegians declare that
| war sentiment in their country is
negligible. The same view has been
expressed in statements in the Nor
| WS6 ldl1 pdi lidiuonts PROBABLY inspired
by the German warning. On the other
hand. Germany is evidently perturbed
by the state Of Norwegian public
opinion.
The German minister to NORWAY.
Admiral Won Hintze, who 1t is reported
had been sent to that country as the
apostle Of the strong hand, has been
visiting Berlin to report on the situa-
tion. A Danish member of the German
reichstag has Just visited Norway on
what can undoubtedly be described as
pacifying mission. and a mass Of in
spfred editorial matter is being te1e.
graphed from the German press and by
the correspondents in Berlin in an en-.
deaVor to convince Norwegians of the
unwisdom Of extreme anti-German feel
ing, and OF the benevolence of German
intentions as. respects them.
Would Interfere in Finland.
II LONDON, November 28-An E,-
change Telegraph dispatch from Co
penhagen quotes the Stockholm Alton.
bladet as advising Swedish or ,o,nt
Scandinavian Interference for the sai.