Warren sheaf. [volume] (Warren, Marshall County, Minn.) 1880-current, 1917-03-14
SWEDEN.


edness. "Grievous is this hour in
which the king and riksdag meet
again to face the common responsible
tiles which the security and future
OF the kingdom impose on them.
bid you welcome at this moment,
when you have met to prosecute your
important labors.
II wish on this occasion to address
both to you and the entire nation a
serious appeal. This is already the
third year that the world war has
ragged with growing fury. Up to the
present, we have been able, by the
grace of God, to avoid being drawn into
i but its effects none the less have
inflicted on us many sufferings. The
longer the conflict lasts, the greater
become our difficulties; and we can.
not and must not shut our eyes to the
profound gravity of the present hour.
1T is necessary for the Swedish peo-
pie to remember this, and in the trou-
blous circumstances in which we find
ourselves, to realize that they must
put an end to conflicts which might
divide the nation. All internal dis.
sensions aggravate peculiarly the diff
ficulties of my task. Unity among our
citizens, on the other hand, facilitates
the realization of che end I have set
out to attain with the consent of the
entire country, which is to assure the
liberty and sovereignty of the kingdom
and to safeguard her neutrality. The
state of special preparedness to which
have judged it indispensable to bring
our land and sea forces must still be
maintained. The increasing extent to
which the operations of war have been
carried on in our territorial waters has
necessitated extraordinary measures.
''The duty of all neutral states to
maintain international law, the care of
common legitimate interests, the de-
sire to contribute to the establishment
of a durable peace, assuring in the fu
ture their position and their free de
velopment, induced Sweden to enter
into relations with other neutral pow.
ers, especially with the two other
Scandinavian kingdoms, with view to
common deliberations and decisions.
trust that the co-operatisp already eff.
fected between the neutral states will
further be strengthened and extended
''The lack of fOOdstuffs caused by
Che war in the worlds stocks, as well
as the hindrances placed in the way
of our imports by the belligerent pow.
ers, have brought with them for oul
people difficulties; which daily become
more accentuated. In order to guar
antee the import of necessary goods
without, however, compromising other
essential interests, have entered into
negotiations with certain belligerent
powers.
''The question Of the purchase in
foreign markets Of foodstuffs of which
our country is most in need and OF
their transport to Sweden on equitable
conditions is attracting my special at.
tention and care. The necessity of as.
surfing a fair distribution Of indispen
sable food stuffs decided me to issue
regulations which entail considerable
interference with the life Of the in.
dividual.
with a view to decreasing by meas
ures tending to reduction in price
the effects of the high price of living.
intend to submit to you certain bills.
The efforts Of the state to aid the weak
members of society only will be
crowned with complete success if the
nation supports them by loyal volun.
tary cooperation, and if it learns III
the rough school of the present time
to understand better the solidarit,
of all and to free itself from the lust
of immediate gain. I intend to ask
you for credits for a, war bonus tC
state officials, for an increase of pen.
sions, and for 1 her grants to certain
officials.
"In these times of divisions and VIC
lence, of which no one can yet foresee
the end, solicitude for the safety OF
the kingdom imposes upon us the duty
Ing of national defense of the expert,
ences gained during the war. intenl
in this matter also to ask for your
collaboration"
The scarcity of grain induced many
farmers to use potatoes as a part OF
their bread, and the consumption OF
potatoes has been so great during this
winter that they will no doubt be
scarce when the season for planting
comes.
The government was defeated in
Joint ballot Of the two chambers OF
the riksdag on the request for the
appropriation Of $s,O0OOOO to be used
in preserving Sweden's neutrality. TIL:
first chamber gave 81 votes in favor OF
the appropriation and 50 in opposition
but the second chamber cast IS ayes
and 1913 nays, this giving joint ma.
jority Of Is against the government.
The government has loaned out ST..
100000 to poor men on condition that
they procure homes, generally farms
of their own