Evening star., 1917-09-10
EMBARGO ON SWEDEN
MAY BE TIGHTENED AS
RESULT OF INTRIGUE
Officials Indicate This May BE
Reply to Alleged Un-
neutral Acts.
HOPE PEOPLE MAY CALL
HALT ON THEIR RULERS
Administration Here Awaits Word
From Stockholm on Attitude OF
That Government.

That Government.
Talks with well informed government
officials concerning developments grow
ing out of the disclosure of the sending
of German dispatches by the Swedish le!
CATION in Buenos Aires indicate this gov
ernment may pursue policy which will
open the eyes of the people of Sweden
to the fact that the pro-German attitude
of their own government officials is like
" to lead to starvation. This govern
ment, it seems sure today, will tighten
the embargo which is already giving
Sweden bad nightmare, and there will
be a general stiffening all along the line
with regard to nations, supposedly neu-
trail, but suspected of being the cloaks
under which German insidiousness has
been hiding.
Pin Faith in Swedish People.
When the people of Sweden begin to
feel the pinch of real hunger they will
inquire the cause, and when they find
they are being denied food from Amer
lea because their own government is
conniving with Germany there will be
internal strife, dissension and a general
upheaval-so it is figured in high places
here Reports from Europe indicate
that the Swedish people are not nearly
SO pro-German as their government.
This gives color to the thought that
the people of that country may find
themselves between starvation and war
against the allies, due to a situation
brought upon them through no fault of
their own.
German activities in the other South
American countries, it is said, may
governments find that they are being
used.
Diplomats here believe also that the
duplicity shown by the discoveries of
the Argentine matter means that the
eventual peace terms will have to be. SO
ironclad and frm. capable Of no twist
ing or double translation. that in effect
it will mean two ipdorsers to the note
The a4ministraftou, which long ago
learned to dfstruet the German diplo-
macy. today is in the attitude of a man
who shrugs his shoulders and asks:
There. see that? How can I trust
your
This has an important bearing upon
ing on their way from Germany. In
terviews with officials Of this govern
ment today indicated that the shattered
faith in Germany's promises has been
further reduced to powder.
Compliments have been paid to the
American diplomatic service for dis
covering the intrigue in Argentina. No
hint has been given here as to how
this was obtained. but it recalls the
Zimmerman note to Mexico, which fell
INT AVoa IA n
the most marvellous diplomatic secret
service work ever dreamed of.
Awaiting Swedish Action.
The government today still was wait
ing for some indication of how the
Swedish government regards the dis
closures of the part taken by it's lega-
German legation dispatches to Berlin.
Neither the Argentine ambassador nor
the Swedish minister has presented
any message from his government,
or both had communicated with the
State Department this government
would take no step toward the de-
velopment of what may lead to a seri-
among the neutral governments
At the State Department today 1t
was made clear that there was no dis
position to question the good faith and
distinction between the people and the
government was carefully pointed out
That Argentina will take prompt
steps toward securing an explanation
from Sweden is assumed, and the State
Department will be surprised If the
Argentine foreign Office does not force
the recall of Count Luxburg, the
charge d'affaires. who advised the sink
ing of Argentina's ships without 1eav-
ing any traces" and who referred to
the head Of the foreign office as a
notorious ass"
That the incident has been regarded
by this government as warlike act by
Sweden was absolutely denied. Wha
may develop is a lifferent thing. A
present there has been no change IL
the position of the two governments
This government has attempted no re-
striction upon free communication be
tween Sweden's representatives an6
their government, and there was no in
dication that any would be imposed
This government regards the entire
question as a more direct grivence o.
the allies than of the United States.
Absorbs Diplomatic Corps.
The exposure has created a sensation
which absorbs the diplomatic corps an(
all official quarters almost to the ex
clusion of all other subjects connected
with the war.
As a revelation of the machinationi
of German diplomacy 1t takes rank sec
ond only to the celebrated Zimmerman
note.
State Department officials today mad
1t plain they deplored any attempt t.
color the incident as forecasting
diplomatic break between the United
States and Sweden.
No such development is even though
of at this juncture. At the presen
stage 1t is wholly matter between AR
gentsna. Sweden and Germany. with tn
United States, her allies and the rest o
the world interested onlookers, cage
to know how the most remarkabl
train of events will be explained o
dealt with by the three governments.
GernJany's probable action is more o
less discounted. ANXIOUS to retain tn
friendship of the few nations whic
have not gone to war with her, 1t
expected that amends will be offered Z
Argentina for the German charge
references to the foreign minister. Tha
may take the form of Luxburg's recall
and a reputation Of his action.
Conjecture as to Argentina.
How Argentina will receive the in
suit. coming close on her "diplomati
victory with Germany, and apply
to her determination not to join tn
United States in the war. or even T.
sever diplomatic relations, is the sub