Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1918-01-16

Augusta, Maine
67o,,7oo-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-'
az or sister or near relative-has emigrat-
ec to America. And no sooner does the
household find out that YOU are from th@
great Republic over the ocean than every
one will ply you with all sorts or ques-
tons about our country. They Will ask
you about the soil and climate OF the
State where their relatives reside, what
business is carried on there and what are
the chances for their relatives TO get OIL
And then they will tell you how wen
their friends are thriving, how much they
praise America in all their letters, ana
what generous presents they send back to
the old folks at home at Christmas and
midsummer Indeed, exact statisucs'
taken from the postoffice, banks and eX-
press companies. show that the money
sent by Swedish-Americans to their reia-
tives in the old country amounts to many
millions of dollars every year. And the
affection and admiration OF the Swedes In
the old homes go out not only to their
relatives here, but also to the great iani
that shelters them and gives them such
free and grand opportunities in life. Under
such conditions any alliance of Sweden
with our enemies which would lead to war
between Sweden and America is UNI
thinkable.
And right here we must take into ac-
count that the Swedish elections of Sep
TENDER Of this very year have resulted in
giving Sweden liberal Government: and
that this Government has less sympathy
for Germany and more for our own coun-
try than any Government Of modern
times.
Furthermore, the many Swedish mer
chant ships sunk by German submarines
on the high seas, without warning and
love of the Swedes for the piratical Tell
tons.
The Three Kings
1t will be remembered that in 1914. in
the early days Of the war, King Gustav
Of Sweden, King Haakon of Norway and
by their ministers, met together at the
city of Malmo, Sweden, lying across the
sound from the Danish capital, Copenha-
gen.
Here an agreement between the three
Kingdoms was made. The exact details OF
this agreement were not made public, but
there is no doubt that an understanding
was reached that the three Scandinavian
Kingdoms should maintain their neutrality
and, as far as possible, act together to
this end.
And even as ] am writing this article
there comes a telegram from Scandinavia
stating that the three kings have again
held a meeting, this time at Christiania,
the capital Of Norway. At this confer
ence it has been declared officially that,
however long the war may last and
whatever form II may take, the cor
dial relations and mutual confidence
Of the three kingdoms shall be main
tained." and, further. that 'in conform
ity with the previous declarations and
policies Of the three countries, it is the
full intention Of their Governments, eacn
for itself, to observe the utmost degree
ers"
1t is true that this pact does not
speak for any united action Of the
three Governments; on the contrary, it
only commits them each for itself" TO
observe neutrality. but diplomatic Ian
guage is cautious, and no one acquaint-
ed with the history of the three lands
could expect stronger language at this
time. 1t is well to bear in mind also
that neither the Swedish. Norwegian
nor Danish Government has ever re-
garded treaties or solemn agreements
between nations as scraps of paper"
and under this latest agreement there
can be no doubt that the three Gov
ernments will not only do their utmost
to maintain their neutrality. but will
act together to this end with full ac-
cord and utmost confidence in each
other.
Y And in so doing they will be carry
| Ing out the well-considered and firm
determination of the vast ma iority of
their peoples, since their earnest desire
to keep out of the war is incompar-
ably stronger than their Sympathy o..
dislike for any nation whatever. IN
acting together, too, the summarizes
Of the three peoples will counterlal-
ance each other For if Sweden sym-
pathizes with Germany, it IS certain
that both Norway and Denmark SYM
pathize fully as stroncly-ycg. more
stronsly-with England and her Allies.
Bank on Sweden
1t must have cost the King of Swe
den a painful sacrifice of his personal
feelings to visit the Norwegian capital
to attend this last meeting of the
three kings. 1t is the first time King
Gustav has set his foot on Norweg,a II
soil since Norway dethroned his father
the good King Oscar-in 1908. But
this very sacrifice shows how imnor-
tant the Swedish king considers the
neutrality and the united action Of the
three Scandinavian kingdoms.
So the answer to the nuestion
What Is Sweden going to do?" must
be this:
Sweden is going to be neutral ana
she is going to maintain her neutral
,ty TO the end-whatever the end may
be. And not only Sweden, but Norway
and Denmark. acting in full accord
with Sweden, will do likewise, What
that end will be depends at the nresa,,
time more Upon .Amerioa 4L