Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-12-11
PEACE WITH RUSSIA
WANTED IN SWEDEN
Soviet Plan, Tried and Found
Wanting, No Longer
Feared.
BY HAL O'FLAHERTY.
! BY Cable to The Star and Chicago
Daily News. Copyright, 1919.

STOCKHOLM. weden. December :.
What is considered to be an open
bid for peace between Sweden and
soviet Russia appears in message
from Copenha gen, in which Maxim
Litvinof declares that the bolShevist
government, which he represents, is
willing to resume normal relations at
once. On the surface there is little
comment upon this peace feeler. but
underneath one finds strong desire
to reopen connections with Patro@rad
and to start up the old trade routes
Thls feeling is especially strong i
| the ranks of organized labor. which
last week passed Il resolution demand
ing peace with Russia.
Inc elements representing sweden $
upper classes are unwilling to STATE
Il definite position for fear the world
VIII get the Impression that Sweden
is -bolshevist, but they lean de-
cidedly toward some plan Of patching
up the diplomatic breach which de-
Veloped after the bolsheviki had loot
ed the Swedish consular offices
Maxim Litvinoff. in his statement
, published this morning, declares that
the soviet government intends to
make good the losses incurred
through the looting of the consulates
when peace has been arranged. With
! such promises and also an offer to re-
open Petrograd to trade it is thought
reached. Perhaps it will he the first
step in arriving at a better feeling
toward Lenin and Trotsky.
Soviet Rule Found Wanting.
During the last few months Sweden
has taken to heart all the lessons OF
RuSsia's attempt at n communistic
government. and NOW, some say
propaganda. 1t has been tried and
found wanting not only by the con-
servativeS, hut ny the radical So
ciallsts, SO the opening of friendiier
relations. IT is argued. is not going
to bring any danger of a flood of
sentiment for rule by soviet. Po-
iitically and economically, the Swedish
people are absolutely proof against
boishevism. but their feeling of dis
content over the loss of trade in the
east apparently swings opinion to the
view that peace must come.
NJ. Litvinof offers to begin the ex-
change of products the same day that
an agreement is reached. He offers
to ship through Reval large guam
titles of hemp, flax, platinum, oil and
shipments of machinery. medicines
and food. which are badly needed ir
all parts of Russia He empha sizes
the point that it would not be neces-
sary to await the breaking up OF the
ice in the Gulf Of Finland. but tha'
both countries could use Revel as the
port of exchange.
If peace is declared Sweden will un-
doubtedly provide in the terms
against any rush of immigrants from
Russia. She is as wary as is the
United States regarding the influx
of people who may have plans for
melting trouble here just as the for
eign elements in New York and other
points in the United States have been
stirring up minor revolts. Aside from
those who view Russia from the
monetary standpoint there are not
few who hope for the reopening of re-
lations SO that aid may be given tc
the sick and underfed population
, Several organizations have already
begun preparing supplies of every de.
scription to send to Petrograd imme
diatelv after friendly relations are re
, sumed
American Girls Help in Relief.
One movement is headed by the
Countess Palmstjerna, wife of the
Swedish first sea lord. This is for the
purpose of collecting clothes. food