Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-02-09
SWEDEN'S POSITION
STRICTLY NEUTRAL
Rejects President Wilson's
Suggestion for Severance of
Relations With Germany.
TEXT OF THE REPLY TOU. S.
By the Associated Press.

! STOCKHOLM, via London, February
I9.-The Swedish government rejects
| President Wilson's suggestion that
other neutral countries join with the
United States in severing diplomatic
| relations with Germany, and declares
| its intention to follow the strictest
| neutrality long as it is possible.
Swedens reply was delivered to the
American minister today
THE government Of the United States
| has chosen as a means of arriving at
| the realization of peace a method abb
solutely contrary to the principles
which have guided the policy of the
| Swedish government up to the present
| hour"
| So declares the Swedish note, which
| the minister of foreign affairs, X. A.
| Wallenberg. delivered to the American
| minister. Ira Nelson Morris. in reply to
| president Wilson's invitation to Sweden
| to join with the United States, which
| Mr.. Morris communicated the Swedish
| government on Monday.
Text of tho Note.
| The text of the note follows:
The policy followed by the royal
government duriIg the war has been
one Of strictly impartial neutrality. The
royal government has done everything
in its power faithfully to fulfill all the
duties which this policy imposes upon
it, and at the same time it has rendered
| effective. as far rs possible. the rights
derived therefrom.
with a view to obtaining a practi-
cal result In UNFOLDING the principles
of international law, the royal gov
eminent mas several times addressed
itself to neutral powers in order to eff
feet cooperation, with the aforesaid
object in view. Above all. the royal
government has not failed to submit
to the government of the United States
a proposal to this effect
| THE royal government has observed
| with great regret that the interests of
the United States have not permitted it
to accept these proposals. The steps
| thus taken by the royal government
| have led to the taking of common
measures among Sweden, Denmark and
! erent groups.
Will Aid Plan for Durable Peace.
In the policy followed by the royal
| government in order to maintain its
neutrality and safeguard the legitimate
| rights of the country, the royal gov
eminent. alive to the indescribable suf-
ferings which from day to day more
| cruelty Cypress all humanity, Is READY
to seize every opportunity which offers
| itself to contribute to the realization
| of near and durable peace. Conse-
| ouently it FASTENED to associate itself
| with the noble initiative taken by the
President with view to examining the
possibility of instituting negotiations
| between the belligerents.
| The proposal which forms the sub
| iect of the present correspondence has
| as it's aim the shortening of the evils
| of the war. but the government of the
| United States has chosen as means of
| arriving at this end A method abso-
| lutely contrary to the principles which
| have guided the policy of the royal
| government up to the present hour.
For Neutrality and Impartiality.
The royal government. supported by
| public opinion, confirmed by the unani
nous solicitation of the country's rep
| resentatives, intends to follow in the
future. as in the past, policy of neu
trality and impartiality toward both
| belligerent groups and it is not dis
| posed to abandon this policy unless the
| vital interests of the country and the
dignity of the nation oblige it SO to do"