The Washington times., 1921-10-23

(Scdndinapia's post-soar prob
lens are ably discussed by Cen
eral Charles II. Sheriff. ia the fol-
lotoing Illuminating article appear
ing in the October issue Of The
Forum)/
BY GEN. CHARLES II. sHERRILL
ANUCH has been said and writ
N ten OF the World Wars e.
feet on Continental Europe
and the British Isles. but next to
nothing about scandinavia's chang
ed status due to the same cause.
Before the war Sweden was ever
fronted with danger from Rus
sian invasion on her eastern front.
and Denmark was still suffering
from the seizure Of the Schleswig
agricultural lands on her southern
boundary. the first fruits of Bis
marck's grouping of a Pan-German
bloc shortly to become. under his
aggressive leadership. the German
Empire.
Norway had developed a splendid
merchant marine with a tonnage
exceeding three million. for which,
however. she badly needed coal.
Then the war broke out. Even
though Denmark. Sweden and Nor
way took no belligerent part in the
great struggle. they could not en-
tirely escape Its destruction.
NORWAY's HEAVY LOSS.
All three suffered from sub
marines and floating mines. Norway
worst of all. for she lost ono thou
sand one hundred and sixty.two
seamen and half of her pre.war
shipping, On the credit side. in cold
cash, the citizens Of all three ma
tions benefited as neutrals, with
the result that the profiteers of
Scandinavia are noticeably abroad
in the land.
Furthermore, although non-partic-
ipants in the fighting. two Of these
northern nations actually gained
territory: Norway, by the Paris
treaty of February .. 1920. receiv-
ing the rich coal fields Of Spitsber-
gen. Heretofore No-Man's Land.
while for Denmark came a solution
of the old Danish Duchies question
by the Allies return to her tcon-
firmed by the 1921 plebiscite) Of
Northern Schleswig. taken by Bis
marck in 1864. Together with this
territory, half again as large as
Rhode Island, she receives an added
population Of nearly two hundred
thousand.
Norway's two and a half million
gained no addition from the Spitz-
bergen annexation. Such was the
appreciation shown by the Allies
for the benevolent neutrality of
these two countries. But Sweden
was, on the whole. pro-German be-
cause for centuries she constantly
dreaded the Russian giant and could
see only the promised friendship Of
Germany as a help In need
SWEDEN'S SITUATION.
We outsiders may not dread the
sword of Damocles. but we must
not expect Damocles to forget what
is constantly hanging over his head.
How could the Swedes side openly
with the French nation. which had
entered into such close relation
with the dreaded Moscovite. through
Russian loans bought widely by the
French?
The history Of Russia is nothing
but a long series OF absorptions OF
frontier neighbors, and how could
a small nation like the six million
Swedes resist one hundred and sew
enty million Russians. II their de-
mand for an outlet upon the North
Sea became insistent? For Sweden
is not only a Baltic power, but also
possesses the fine ice-free port OF
Gotebors, looking out westerly
across the North Sea.
As a result Of the war Sweden has
actually lost territory. for a commits
sion appointed by the Allies adju-
dicated the Aland Islands to the
newly erected free state Of Finland,
notwithstanding that those islands
are inhabited by twenty-seven thou
sand pure blooded Swedes, who in
a plebiscite, voted almost unanimous
ly tnintey.five per cent? to be in
corporated with Sweden. Further
more. they are only seventy.five
miles from Stockholm, the capital
and heart OF Sweden, which could,
with modern artillery. be bombarded
from the Alands.
A LOSER, YET GAMER.
The argument that the nine per
cent Of the French population who
are Swedes approve this allotment
of islands to Finland, falls when we
reflect that this slender minority
would naturally welcome the addi-
ton of the twenty-seven thousand