Saturday news. (Watertown, S.D.) 19??-19??, 1918-11-14
swEDEN's SYMPATHY WITH GERMANY,

The Swedish king, be it remembered, has a German wife, whose
natural sympathies were with the Germans at the beginning of the
Sweden, like Germany, was permeated with socialism divided, as
in the case of Germany, between two main groups: the conservative
and the radicals.
Since the outbreak Of the war, a prominent socialist has become
the premier Of Sweden-a man Of intellectual attainments and far
seeing vision, who has tried to maintain a neutral attitude, although
personally in sympathy with America and the allies.
Swedish nobility, like German aristocracy, does not look with
favor upon rulership by the proletariat. Government, as viewed
by the mobiles, is intended for the nobility. The rank and file should
be satisfied with the privileges OF mere living, according to the theory
of aristocracy.
Thus the Swedish ruling classes an dthe Swedish nobility were
drawn toward the German autocracy by both ties OF blood and ties
Of common interest. The triumph Of German arms would mean tn,
arresting, for the time being at all events, of the development of thu
socialstic tendencies, using the term in its broad sense rather thar
in its political party sense, which had given rise to grave apprehen,
sion on the part Of the upper crust
Hence, the sympathies Of sweden's government was with Ger
many This accounts for the employment Of sweden's state depart
ment Tor the TRANSMISSION OF dispatches from the South Americaf
representative Of Germany to the German authorities.
but this is not all. Russia had taken from Sweden valuable anf
rich provinces. There prevailed throughout swedens commercial an
political interests the fear that eventually Russia would undertake t,
appropriate even Sweden itself, in order that its ambition, dating
back for generations, might be gratifed in the securing of an cutie
to an open sea.
When Germany declared war on Russia, and Russia retaiated b,
making war on Germany, Sweden's nobility became doubly appre
hensve. Should Russia become the victer, it was felt that Sweden
time had come This fear was communicated to the CONNER
5cal interests, already well saturated with it, and the rank and fill
OF the people We're affected thereby to some extent
Its Il well known fact that, particularly noticeable in such states
as Minnesota, where former Swedish citizens and those of Swedish
descent have congregated in large numbers, more or less sympathy
with Germany was manifested before America became a participant
in the war.
a sweeping charge against tile people Of Swedish extraction
NOW living in the United States, with reference TO 1o-Germanistn
would be unjust, for as a rule they are loyal Americans, but truth
Ecompels the admission that q certain degree of sympathy with Ger
many, during the earlier stages Of the war, and before the lnitee
States entered the conflict, was obvious among the natives of Swede1
residing III America sympathy which, as already explained, was
but natural.
The triumph Of the allies and the virtual disintegration of Rilssi
have served to change the whole aspects Of the situation from til,
Swedish standpoint; indeed, after America declared a state Of war tt
exist between the United States and Germany, Swedish syrlath,
seemed to veer decidedly toward the allies.