Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1918-03-15

! AeV, ScAHulIluSlnn eta%eSnicn
advocated continued neutrality.
They could do nothing less in
view of the Overwhelming and
crushing fact that lhostilities
would mean immediate defeat. at
the hands of h Prlssians. There
m Is, no assurance to the
eject h a the. entente powers
would "'stand by in case Of con.
fitct. 10 II Scandinavia actually
did so 10 q it would be with.
out support from any other pow
/. In February, 1917. feeling ran high
in the north. There were strong de-
mandsa that the German submarine
proclamation was in reality a chal-
ienee to the neutral countries, and
should be met with a declaration Of
war. But calnler counsel prevailed
To appreciate the dangers of
the situation, II must he rcmcm.
bored that Germany is the neigh
Dor to the south, Deing adjacent
70 the mainland of Denmark. 1t
must also be- recalled that Ger
many practically controls the. =
Russian Bnltic provinces and Fin
land 80 that or all the land from.
tiers OF Scandinavia tho German
menace Is q very real thing. In
the Baltic sea, in the Kattegat,
the Worth sea, close to the coasts
OF Norway. r German mcn-of-
war patroiling day and night.
In other : words, Scandinavia is
practically surrounded by Germany
and cannot make a move without ex-
pecting to be annihilated. The danger
toethe north has never been more i'm
minent than it is at the present time.
"a. Tried to Win Sympathy.
The German empire has tried fair
means n foul to win the sympathy
Of the Scandinav:ans, nay, the con-
troll. They have attempted all kinds
Of friendly persuasion, and failed.
They have tried threats, and failed.
They have held out commercial ad-
vantages, and failed.
Commerce is being maintained be-
tween Scandinavia n Germany be-
cause the cessation of it on the part
of Scandinavia would o to an
~unneutral act. and because the entente
export embargo has forced the Scan
dinavAan countries to rely, to a GER
tain extent, upon supplies from Ger
many.
But in the history of inter-com-
mercial relations between countries,
there has never been less affection
SAAA1t All Az C0SS, ! Ikduc Is lldln.
tanned as a matter of sheer necessity,
and Germany refuses to take cash for
her goods, demanding commodities of
which she is in need. =,
This Is a situation. rarely under
stood In America where the distance
and conflicting information becloud
the actual facts.
It may be appropriate in this place
to refer to n method adopted by
-fh0 oh rnv md rc In ~ otva,n NJ
to influence Scandinavian opinion
favorably.
The trades unions Of Norway and
Denmark maintain large fuel stations
where member rs may buy coal at near
ly} cost. Recently it has been
brought out that Germany saw an op-s
portunity in this business and sent
a confidential representative to
Christiania and Copenhagen, empow-
cred to make certain offers.
He offered the Norwegian and Dan
ishf Socialists vast quantities of coal
and coke at g. ridiculously low price
III the leaders of the unions would
pledge that they would wife news:
paper. articles in favor of the German
u @ II
Tie Eorwegians indignantly turned
the offer down, but it appears that a
,factf1n of Danish Socialists, ":fell for
it" to the extent that they were will
ing to take the German coal, and. in
~cidentally, make a little money out of
it. But they refused to atcede to- the
demands that they write in support
o. Germany.
This is, one of many instances if
whoa Germany has tried to swing
Scandinavian opinion. in her, favor
and failed. ~
II War Comes.
There is a great deal of impatience
in SkR ndihavia,t The number Of peo-
pl> who believe that the three
tries should tolerate no more Ger
man insults, is increasing.
At the same time, the governments
%prudently realize that tho cost Of hos
tilities cannot he calculated. 1t is
quite plain that, Scandinavia will be
overrun with, German hordes in. less
time than it takes. to tell it: and. that
settlement will be~made afterward.
Under these circumstances. the wal
possibility Is feared by those who
Svvsav SSS = " T