Evening star., 1943-05-24
Sweden Fears Allies Will End
Safe Conduct for Her Ships
Squeeze Put on Country From Both
Sides to Abandon Neutrality

lSNoSld ALllCllOS az VI tlIIlS
to strike military blow at Sweden
is current in all strata of society. but
ofhcial hope exists that this belief
can be removed.
Nordic unity is ticklish political
problem because its advocacy puts
Sweden in the position of making
plans for her own and Norwavs S
future at the time there is some
Norwegian irrita ton at Swedens
neutrality. The Swedish suggestion
that a Nordic union be d neutrality
bloc is repulsive to Norway, now in
the midst of battle. 1t is known
to me, however. that the American
Government desires northern CO.
operation after the war and 1t is
probable that the Swedish and Nor
wegian dif1iculties are eraseable.
The Norwegian exiled government
representatives in London and
Washington are more severe in their
criticism Of Sweden's position than
officials and refugees in Sweden.
sympathy for Norway.
The Swedish governments wish
via 1lVl pNOplC VI w UC dl III
expression Of feelings is ignored
where Norway is concerned. Morse
flags flew at Gustaf Adolftorg,
across the bridge from the Royal
Palace, on Norwegian independence
day and mass meetings were held
over all OF Sweden. Prince Wilhelm.
the younger son of King Gustaf. is
one of the most enthusiastic advo-
Gates of doing something positive
for Norway. The NaZi newspaper.
Stockholm Dagposten pettishly con-
trasted Gustaf's plea that the
Swedes be absolutely neutral and do
nothing to disturb international
harmony with Vilhelm's outspoken
criticism OF German acts.
However, the traffic of German
war materials across Sweden to Nor
way remains to harass Norwegian
appreciation of Swedens good
wishes. Pressure by many Swedes
to eliminate the traffic has not yet
dented the government. The de-
bate in Sweden is whether this
country could safely withdraw per-
mission to Germany to use the
Swedish rail lines for such a pur-
pose. Almost the only ones who
urge the steps be taken even at
the price of war are Torgny Seger-
stedt, Gothenburg editor, and Carl
Gerhard. Stockholm theatrical pro-
ducer who condemns the govern
ments position in satirical ballads
sung from his stage. The ma jority
opinion apparently is not with
them, but with the government.
1t is impossible to have an
adequate official debate on these
delicate matters because the coali-
ton government esta ablished in 1899
serves to throttle political opposi-
ton. Premier Hanson is proposing
that the coalition continue beyond
the war, but is meeting violent
opposition to this idea within his
own party-Social Democrats-and
his own government colleagues.
One result of the caution in de-
bate during the coalition history is
the present lack Of strong political
men either in the opposition or
Social Democratic party except for
the present leaders
Social Democrats In Power.
Political life here is dominated by
four Social Democrats each of whom
is about so years old-Hansson,
Finance Minister Wigfors, Social
Minister Muller and Defense Min
lister SKIOLD. They are interested
primarily in the development Of the
Swedish Beveridge plan to provide
more health and old-age benefits.
All are old time politicians. Wig
fors. the principal intellectual,
taught Nordic languages in Jutta
University but is now considered
an able economist. Muller began
life as an ONCE boy. His duties in
clude charge of state prisons and
he continued on that job two years
ago when his wife, Elsie Kleen
Muller. was sent to prison for three
months for sponsoring a book
adjudged libelous.
There has been some agitation to
make the foreign minister politi-
cally responsible by replacing ca
reer man Gunther, who has no
political afiliations, with Social
Democrat veteran Ostenunded, who
served in tive previous cabinets.
However, foreign affairs is now con-
sidered national and not = party