The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1917-09-11


Swedish minister at London. has not
received any advices from his gov
ernmentYs but intended, nevertheless,
to visit the foreign ONCE during the
day, for what purpose was not stated,
but probably to make some personal
explanation.
The opinion is expressed in circles
with knowledge OF Swedish political
conditions that the Swedish govern
ment may not allow the full publica-
ton of the revelations in Sweden
because of the elections now in
progress there. Although about one
seventh Of the membership of the
chamber has already been elected
the revelations come at a time to
have their effect on the constitution
of that body. The conservative
party, which is generally believed
here to have pro-German leanings,
has not done well in the elections so
far, having lost i've seats and should
tire Washington disclosures he pub
lished it is predicted it will lose
more.
The press is inclined to differ
entiate between the government and
the people and express the opinion
that the people, If they have the OPP
portunity, will repudiate the action
of their representative in the Argen-
tine and of the foreign office.
Newspaper Comment. ~,
The Globe in its comments on the
revelations says:
1T should be borne in mind at
present that the Swedish nation is
not itself indicted. But the diplo-,
mats and possibly the German queen
are certainly involved in one of the
greatest. most fragrant scandals OF
modern times"
The Globe goes on to say 1t is
willing to make allowances for Swed-
ish fears of Russia but that even
treachery of helping the U-boat
campaign.
What excuse" it says, the German
officials will be able to offer their
countrymen for the heartless sacri-
fee of Swedish lives we cannot
imagine. The consequences although
not necessarily of an alarming ma
ture are likely to be serious for
Sweden. The blockade weapon can
be extremely potent where neutrals
are concerned"
TIL Swedish government, says The
Standard, has a very bad record be-
hind 1T. Its action" says the news
paper, has from the first been In
spired by dynastic partialities and
it has had to be warned repeatedly
concerning its conduct. The
German consort at Stockholm has
almost rivalled the part played by
the Kaiser's sister in Athens. It is
clear that no bargain made with
government led by such influences
can be binding"
The Pail Mall Gazette says that
whatever explanation Sweden offers
1T cannot ever turn the fact that
she has fagrantly broken neutrali-
ty".
THE privileges of diplomacy" the
continues, have been de-
liberately abused, not merely by an
individual ambassador but by the
Swedish foreign ONCE itself. We
may reserve a more explicit verdict
until we have heard what the in
power has to say for it
self. For the present it is obvious
that the public character of Sweden
lies under the most odious stain and
that she has incurred the heaviest
moral and practical liability to each
and all Of the allies"
The Pail Mall Gazette considers
that the British government, which
has in its hands the cables serving
neutral countries, should close the
channels whereby information may
percolates either to or from Ger
many. sri
VIII Tighten Embargo.
Washington, Sept. 11.-While the
American government awaited
developments following Secretary
Lansing's disclosure regarding the
Of official German dis
patches by the Swedish charge at
Buenos Aires, Washington officials
md diplomatists turned their at
IGNITION to a study OF their possible
Two facts stood out clearly.
Sweden will be compelled to make
definite her position as a neutral and
he exposure may be taken as
more exactly the allies
sfention that Germany shall cease
receiving aid from northern Euro
bean neutral countries.
Publication Of the facts reveals
hat this government is fully cogniz-
INT Of aid Sweden has been render
ng the central powers and tends to.
cement opinion in support of the
Lbsolute embargo put into effect
LkGluSL e9WE0ClA dAOIk Will QLHGE
leutrals, six weeks ago.
Sweden like other neutraIs has
,ontended 1t has the right to export
o Germany any commodities produce
ID at home, even though the goods
re replaced by commodities import
ID from the United States. Some
American officials say the war would
,e ended within six months IL Swed-
sh iron exports to Germany were
topped. u.s.
The swedes, it is declared, have
Trained their country OF foodstuffs
" taking from the food producing
Industries vast numbers of men and
,lacing them in the iron mines and
he munitions factories which have
prung UP since the war began,
Another phase Of the situation is
he possible effect If Argentina.
declares war. Argentina will have
arge quantities OF wheat for export
nd as q neutral she might send
much OF IL TO the European neutrals
nder the. operation of the British
lockade. AS a belligerent or with
iplomatic relations broken however.
he Argentine government would
arefuIly supervise all shipments to
reyent any foodstuffs reaching Ger
lany,
Argentina is the only one of the
Is food exporting nations now at
eace with Germany. The Argentine
wheat crop this year promises a
urplus of zoo, 900, 900 bushels much
t which 1t is said already has been
urchased by the European neutral
The British government as an
of trade between neu-
rails has asked that no food be re-
xported. The United States now a
in granting export
censes for food shipments to neu-
rails win demand that II not be used
, take the place OF other foodstuffs
hat might be exported and some
hicials want to 20 so far as to re,
use food to workers whose product
sold to Germany.