Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1942-07-31
Ace Reporter Here
Stem Hedman Ex-INS Correspondent in Sweden,
Calls Stockholm Light Of Neutrality
BY VERA BROWN

Stem Hedman, Nformer Interna'
tional News correspondent II
Stockholm, and one of five Swed
ish newspapermen invited by the
United States government to visit
this country and see the war pro.
is in Detroit today.
Said Hedman:
people I'm America do not
seem 10 realize my country Is
neutral. Today Stockholm Is one
of the few lighted capitals In
Europe-and In Asia for that
matter.
1--WE have IN snaged what
might seem 10 be impossible
neutrality. When Norway was
invaded, IL was difficult, but we
continued on our course.
To-day we suffer food
shortage like all European cOun-
tries. Our harvests for the last
two years have been 35 per cent
under normal. due TO the poor
summer weather.
T-BONE MONTHS RATION
zone of your T-bone steaks
would be meat ration for
month. BE we are eating. Our
gas and electricity are ratiOned
coal il at a premium.
"Our baths In winter are ra-
toned TO two a winter but
that Is not as bad as IL sounds.
We 20 to public baths or take
cold ones, and the small chill
dren are b a I h e d with water
heated on the Kitchen stove.
"On our big bath days the
government announces that gas
will he available for certain
hours on certain days for home
bathing.
I'VE have an army OF SOC, 900
men. They have modern arms,
every one OF them, and that In
cludes the home guard. Our
plants are turning out both long
range and dive b0mbers. We
are making Oerlikon anti-air-
craft guns like your own. All
this we make-sfor ourselves.
EVERY HOME AN ARSENAL
Remember. my country has
had CONSUMPTION for 90 years.
We have a good army. Every
home Is a little arsenal. We still
export about 1,000,0 tons Of
steel 10 Germany as we did be-
fore the war. For, contrary to
your opinion, we are an indus
trial country--and we demand
cash on the line. Germany has
promised us coal for this winter
e. 900. 900 tons. We've had so
far about 100000. That may
be all we get, for coal Ii scarce.
"Our press il the only free
press In all Europe. We do what
we can 20 help our Norwegian
blood brothers, for that Is what
we consider them. Only once
In the last two years has there
been any censorship Of any ar
ticIe In our newspapers. That
involved some stories about
Nad atrocities In Norway.
THE government ordered the
articles stopped because Swed-
ish correspondents had not
witnessed the episodes. Later q
Swe ish newspaperman> was
finally sent 10 Norway. He did
not remain there long. admit.
HAVEN OF NoRWEGIANs
I'VE have become the haven
OF liberal Norwegians who have
escaped out of Norway. just as
Europeans are seeking refuge I'm
switzerland.
I'VE have bomb shelters un-
der our flower beds. We have
U-boats. mine sweepers, a fine
new type; all wood, too, cheap
and easy TO make. We have
CONSUMPTION up TO ~ years OF
age"
Hedman is impressed with the
lie Of America and with Presi-
lent Roosevelt's smile. for he had
In audience at the White House.
Ie is enchanted with iced tea and
las sent directions and A packet
II tea 10 his wife back home.
He will visit Willow Run to-
He has seen the ChTys-
er Tank Plant and visited Cen
,ral Electrics huge shop in Sche-
lectady.