Evening star., 1943-08-06
Swedish Public Halls
Decision 10 Put End
To German Transit
BY the Associated Press.


STOCKHOLM, Aug. 6.-The Swed-
ish public demonstrated pleasure to-
day at the decision by the govern
ment of King Gustaf v to bar SWe-
den's transit facilities to German
troops and materiel
The average SWede never approv-
ed of the NaZi transit traffic between
Germany and Norway and Finland
through Sweden. 1t was accepted by
the government as an eXpedient
measure when war threatened the
unprepared nation in 1910.
Now the Swedes are better pre-
pared in a military way than at any
time in their history, with an army
of 400, 900 men and coastal and other
defenses on 24-hour alert for any
eventualty.
No reprisals have been indicated
or threatened by the Nazis for the
decision, announced yesterday, to
stop the transport of German war
materiel across Sweden August IS
and to halt the movement of troops
August 20.
CA German Foreign Office
spokesman was quoted by the
Berlin radio today as saying the
cessation of. traffic through
Sweden resulted from an agree
ment between the two govern
mentS and that no tension ex-
listed between Berlin and Stock
holm. The broadcast was re-
corded by the Associated Press.)
Heavy Burden Lifted.
For Sweden, the drastic step
lifted heavy burden from her neu-
trality policy; for Germany, it will
force further use of the perilous
North Sea route to Norway and it
also added materially to the problem
of supplying Nazi troops in Finland.
New encouragement was provided
the loyal population of Norway. who
have already reported the morale of
the German occupational forces
ebbing dangerously.
The growing possibility of an
Allied invasion of Norway and the
American Flying Fortress raids on
German objectives there July "a
brought to head Swedish public
demands that the traffic be ended.
A Foreign Office spokesman said
the Nazi movements had proved a
burden on both "the Swedish neu-
trality policy and relations with
Norway"
Anywhere from 600 to 1000 Ger
man troops have been moving daily
on Swedish railways. The amount
of war supplies freighted through
is military secret, but such traffic
may have been more important than
the transfer of the soldiers.
Statement Issued.
The Swedish Foreign Office issued
the following statement:
Transport of war materials to
and from Norway and Finland. re-
spectively, will cease on August Is
while leave traffic from and to Nor
way, as well as the so-called horse
shoe traffic between Trondheim and
Narvik will cease altogether August
20
The Foreign Office draws atten-
ton to the fact the agreement with
Germany regarding the cessation of
transit traffic naturally does not
affect ordinary passenger traffic and
goods traffic. Germans who obtain
proper visas thus, as before, with
regular Swedish trains and ordinary
goods and mail will be carried
through Sweden.
Hospital trains with wounded
and the ill will, even in the future.
as cases arise, pass through Sweden
In accordance with The Hague Con-
vention."
With no railways through the
mountainous region linking Trond-
heinz to Narvik, the Germans will
need one-third more ships to supply
Norway by sea, one Swede esti-
mated.
Rigid Observation.
Swedish officials emphasized that
until the traffic was halted, the pres
ent agreement would be rigidly OBJ
served and that the Germans would
not be permitted to send extra sup
plies or to reinforce or reduce the
Norwegian garrisons via Sweden.
Speculation that Germany might
cut off coal vital for Swedish in
dustries was countered by the COM
ment of a Swede who said such a
possibility was balanced by the
Germans need for Swedish iron ore
There was some uncertainty, how
ever, as to how long Germany would
permit safe conduct for Swedish
vessels moving oil and supplies from
the Western Hemisphere.
The newspaper Dagens Nyheter,
commenting editorially on the
transit stoppage, said the people had
been waiting ''impatiently" a long
time for the announcement and
seldom has government message
been received with greater satisfac-
tion and delight by the whole ma
ton"
IF the step has given Germany
a clearer picture of what we think
about conditions in Norway" it said,
that will be great help"
III ALL. r.. To-.