The sun., 1917-10-17
SWEDEN HINTS
AT BREAK OYER
| SEIZED SECRETS
Minister Ekengren Makes
Most Frantic Efforts to
Recover Pouches.
BRITAIN DISTRUSTFUL
Won'tSurrender Mysterious
Packages Sent Just Prior
to Lansing's Expose.
SEALS STILL PROTECTED
Diplomats Much Interested in
Situation Affecting Stock
holm's Good Faith.
BRITAIN DISTRUSTFUL
SEALS STILL PROTECTED
Specioi Despdteh 10 TEE SuS.

Spectot Dcspdfeh 10 TEE SuS.
WASHINGTON. Oct. 16.-The Swedish
Legation is trying to bring pressure
to bear on the American Government
tn get Great Britain to turn over tho
Swedish diplomatic pouches which, as
told exclusively in THE SUN to-day. are
being held at the British Embassy here.
following their seizure at Halifax. Hints
are being dropped Of the possible re-
fusal of Swedish diplomats to continue
negotiations with the United States un.
less the pouches are turned over un-
opened to Swedish Minister Ekengren.
The pouches. In the form OF bulky
bag and six odd looking boxes. remain
with the seals Of the Swedish Foreign
ONCE unbroken. In them, according to
the Swedish, officials. are the credentials
Of DIR. Hjalmar Lundovohm, the special
Swedish envoy. authorizing him to take
up important matters on behalf Of his
Government with Food Administrator
Hoover. a fact which il causing him
great embarrassment.
Efforts 80 far made by Minister
IshcHeItu idNc euNCccucu oHly III cN-
peditlng the forwarding Of the pouches
to Washington, but have not solved the
problem Of getting them from the Brit.
Ish Embassy.
Some Interesting Developments.
To-day's developments IN this inter-
esting diplomatic situation were the
following:
Mr.. Ekengren wen. early to the Stats
Department and conferred at length
with Counsellor Frank l.. Polk, pre-
sumably renewing his plea that tho
United States ask the British Embassy
to give up the bag and boxes.
The British Embassy maintained ~
position that orders from London for
bade turning over the pouches unless
Mr. Ekengren opened them in the pres
ence OF British officials
The Swedish legation indicated that
the British might break the seals and
open the pouches II they desired. but
that Mr.. Ekcngrcn would not open them
In the presence OF British representa-
tves For attaches of the British En-
bassy to open the bags would be n vio-
lation Of Swedish sovereignty, which
would only he resorted to in extreme
circumstances.
dish sources that DR.. IIjalmar Lundo-
yohn1 would have to cable for new Gre
dentials unless the pouches were Sc
cured.
Mr. Ekcngren made a late visit to the
State Department to renew his pleas
for the pouches.
The explanation from State Depart
ment officials was necessarily guarded
and of such n character as not to In
fringe on diplomatic information I'M
parted 10 them by foreign representa-
tiyes and not 10 attempt Interpretation
Of the policy of any foreign government.
Britain Chiefly Concerned.
1t was explained that primarily tho
case did not involve the United States
Government officially. but concerned the
Government of Great Britain and tho
Government of Sweden. Whatever as
sistance Mr. Ekengren had asked OF the
State Department was not commented
upon
1t was explained that the British in
tercepted the pouches at Halifax after
Great Britain had withdrawn all cable
and mail diplomatic privileges from
Sweden as a result OF Secretary Ian
sings exposure of Swedish German col
lusion in the Count LuNburg kilograms
from Argentina.
There appears to he some question
involved as to Irregularities in sealing
the pouches, but the main point, II ap-
pears. revolves about the British GcV-
ernment's refusal 20 take the Swedish
Governments pledge that the matter
contained In the pouches Is harmless
II IL empha in British circles
that the bag and boxes were packed AT
Stockholm before the Lansing exposure
of the Swedish Governments secret as
sistance to Germany. and consequently
are open to suspicion OF containing un-
neutral matter. The word OF the Stock
holm Government as to the innocence a.
the material Is not accepted without
question hy Great Britain because os
the proved charges OF Swedish duplicity
and bad faith
II is explained that Sweden's dplo-
matte privileges SO far as sending cipher
cable messages are concerned are now
withdrawn by both Great Britain and
France The Swedish Legation here, in
this respect. Is cut off from the Stock
holm Foreign Office because the British
and French censors will not let code
messages go through.
Release CableEram withheld.
Inquiry at the Swedish Legation
brought the explanation that the Gov
crnment at Sweden had arranged with
the British Minister al Stockholm 10
cable to the British authorities at Halt
fax to let the pouches by unchallcnged,
but that the cable was not sent.
This IL virtually admitted In British
circles. but 1t is said that the Lansing
exposure was made while the pouches
were on the high seas and caused the
British Government to Withdraw diplo.
matte immunity to the pouches
According TO the LEGATION. Mr. Ekcn-
gren informed the British Embassy here
that its members were welcome to In
spect the contents Of the pouches. but
that they would have to break the seal.
themselves so long as they remained AT
the British Embassy, Mr.. Ekengren re-
fused Indignantly the Emhassy's sus-
gestion that he break the seals In their