Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1917-08-14
Situation In Sweden Is
Told By Won Wiegand


land 4,1l0,032 tons of coal and coke,
as against only ll7.2l2 tons from Ger.
many. In 1914 from England 1852 sol
tons as against 335 1872 from Germany.
in 1915 Sweden's coal supply from
/ England had dropped by Onehalf. In
that year she imported 2,173.634 tons
of all varieties of coal and coke from
! England as against 2,Sl5,730 tons
from Germany. In 1916 from England
/ l,707,3l9 tons as against 4.3S0,576
from Germany. This year no coal
whatever was obtained from England
in the months of February and March
when the ruthless submarine cam
paign began, small amount in April
and May and little more in June.
The present agreement between Swe.
den and Germany calls for a mini
mum of 10000 tons of coal per
month. The Germans have fulfilled
their agreement. This together with
what was imported from England in
May and June is about one.half of
the amount required.
Were Sweden not obtaining any
coal from Germany the street rail.
ways and private railways in the
country would have to suspend with
In one month, the state RAILWAYS sys.
ten within three months, which to.
gether with industries which would
have to shut down in consequences
would throw more than a quarter of
q million men out of employment.
This is the statement made to me
upon the basis of figures shown.
About 5000 men are employed in the
Swedish ore fields and $4,000 in the
paper pulp industry English coal is
commanding price of 27O shillings
per ton in Stockholm as against Ger
man coal at so shillings.
That Sweden is exporting large
quantities of iron ore to Germany.
was frankly admitted. It was de-
clared that ore is a domestic product.
that Sweden has a right TO export II
and that she is exporting it not only
to Germany but to England. It was
declared that Swedish steel is the
chief source of supply for the Shelf.
field fine tool industry. Also 350,00O
tons of ore had been exported to the
'nitpd Statpg thic vnar
Iron ore. it was explained is one of
the compensation" insisted upon by
Germany. No ore from Sweden, no
coal, no salt, no medicines, no dyes,
no chemicals from Germany. is the
latter's ultimatum.
II was also frankly stated that
certain amount Of copper and brass
Is exported from Sweden to Germany
but explained that this was for the
manufacture of copper and brass ar
tioles not obtainable elsewhere.
Sweden imports from Germany all
the fine copper wire nets used in the
making OF wood pulp. Sweden has
never had the facilities for manufac.
turing these copper nets which re.
quire a special process For this and
Tor machinery with brass bearings.
Sweden furnishes the German manu-.
facturers with the amount of conner
returned to Sweden as manufactured
articles together with a specified al.
lowance for wastage.
Touching upon Sweden's mercantile
marine the following figures were
given. Sweden has a total tonnage of
lo00,000 dead weight or loading
tons OF this amount, 100000 tons
are held in British ports controlled
Allies Sailing in the service of the
Allies are l25,0O0 tons of Swedish
ships, 10000 tons have been lost and
sunk since the beginning of the war
and between 200 and 300 lives lost.
That Swedish ships we're reluctant
TO sail to England, was explained on
the ground that they had to run the
FISK of being torpedoed, and IL they
ana reach the British ports, they were
impressed into service and compelled
TO make voyage to France or Italy be-
lofe allowed to return to Sweden with
coal or other cargo. II was stated
mat over S6O,000,000 worth of Swedish
goods were tied up in British ports
me Swedish transatlantic passenger
steamer stockholm" 1t was pointed
out was held in Halifax from Febru.
airy nh'il the middle Of, July Swe.
ueh IS very hard up for cotton
whether the action was based upon
evidence or belief. that Sweden was
letting imported cotton lr,s@h Ger.
lMunX. Tho lnni L. thn4 L....l....i 4.