Evening star., 1940-05-04
Prisoner in the BuItic'

menace to SWeden's independ-
ence plainly results from Germanys
domination Of Southern Norway and
the prospect that Nazi sway over the
whole of that unfortunate country
may be only matter of days. The
allied abandonment of virtually all
Norwegian territory from the Skag-
errak to a line running north Of
Trondheim eastward to the Swedish
border places Hitler's forces in posi-
ton to invade Sweden almost at will.
1t requires only passing glance
at the map to understand why
American newspaper observers at
Stockholm are beginning to describe
Sweden as "a prisoner in the Baltic"
and to report the country's fears
that it is gravely imperiled by the
allied retreat in Norway. Won Rib
bentrop's recent assurance to the
Swedes that they are in no danger
from the Reich seems to have terri
fed rather than reassured them.
Indeed, Sweden sees In the situa-
tion just created in the north the
imminent peril that she may be the
next to be drawn into the maelstrom.
The SWedes are bitterly conscious
from events of the past month that
nothing but Nazi necessities stand
between them and such a fate, and
this, they also know, is slender reed
to be leaned upon by peace-craving
neutrals who stand across the path
OF German military convenience or
economic imperatives.
Sweden is now virtually cut off
from the sea and is more or less in
Germany'S hands. It Is said she can
not operate her industries for two
weeks without German coal. Even
II Berlin were to demand that the
SWedes extend the dock and railroad
facilities required to augment the
shipment of iron ore from the
Kiruna mines via Lulea through the
Gull of Bothnia, or even ask for the
passage OF German troops from the
port of Lulea to relieve the Nazi gar
rison at Narvik. the Stockholm gov
ernment might find it unwise to
refuse either request" Events in
Norway have just shown the futility
of relying on allied military aid to
help Sweden maintain her neutral
ity. The Stockholm press, stunned
and alarmed by the allied retreat in
Norway, is freely discussing the
causes which led to it, primarily
their "half-measure" aspect and
impliedly warning Swedes to in
dulge in no illusions as to Anglo
French capacity to come to their aid
should the emergency suddenly arise.
King Gustaf commands a well
trained and equipped army OF five
hundred thousand men and a good
little navy and air force. They would
resist valiantly, though perhaps not
for long, even Hitler's seasoned war
machine, but that Sweden could ulti-
mately escape the fate of Denmark
and Norway is none too bright a
prospect.
The United States has an espe-
cially sympathetic interest in what
may betide for the sturdy Swedish
people. Not only have they given in
our time leadership to the whole
world in the domain Of social and
economic progress, but 1t is barely
two years ago that the two nations
were commemorating together in
Washington, Wilmington and Phila-
delphia the tercentenary of the
founding of New Sweden" in the
Delaware River Valley in 1638-only
eighteen years after the Pilgrims
landed at Plymouth. If Sweden is
overrun by the Nazis, there will be
one more reason why the American
democracy-neutrality laws to the
contrary notwithstanding-will view
with horror and repugnance Hitler's
assault on such civilization as Swe-
den so eminently typifies and
which has made notable contribu-
tions to the upbuilding Of this
country.