Evening star., 1943-05-24
BY BLAIR BOLLES,
Star STAN Correspondent.

STOCKHOLM, May "a tbv Wire
less) There is growing gloom in
well-informed quarters here over the
possibility that neutral Sweden may
be facing the wars most difhsult
time with more complete CONNER
cial and communications isolation
from the western world.
The apprehension is based on the
prospect that conversations now
going on in London among Swedish,
American and British representa-
tives may result in refusal of the
United Nations to permit the con-
tinuation Of safe conduct for ship
ping between the new world and
Gothenburg, inside the Allied
blockade.
The squeeze is being put on
Sweden by both sides in the war to
abandon her neutrality. 1t is dis
agreeable to the Allies because it
includes permission to Germany to
send military equipment railwise
across Sweden to Norway and makes
it possible for the Nazis to buy g.
900. 900 tons of Swedish iron ore an
nually. The Nazis are irked be-
cause Sweden declines to follow the
Swiss example and give Germany
almost unlimited credits to buy"
all they desire from industrially-
rich Sweden. The Nazi wartime
debt to Switzerland now is 8OO,OOO,-
900 francs.
Safe Conduct to Expire.
The safe conduct traffic arrange
ment with the Allies expires when
II ships at present being loaded
reach Sweden. Germany held up
this traffic during the early months
this year because Swedens neutral
ity permitted Norwegian ships in
the United Nations service to load
at Gothenburg goods needed for the
Allied fight. There has been a long
struggle among the Allied repre-
sentatives with different views as
to whether the traffic hurts Ger
many more than it helps because it
keeps Sweden from complete eco
nomic dependence on the Nazis who
surround this pro-Allied peace oasis.
Keeping out Of the war is expected
to remain the fundamental aim of
the Swedish government no matter
what happens in London. Behind
that current policy the Swedes are
developing a program of closer af-
flllatlon with the United States,
which is one of three main interests
for postwar foreign policy. The
other aims are establishment of a
scheme of "Nordic unity" providing
close political cooperation between
Sweden, Norway, Denmark and Fin
land, and solid Impeachment Of
flcially with Russia.
The government has a proposal
ready for the Riksdag ,parliament)
for consideration of the authorizing
of the increase of Sweden's diplo-
matte and consular representation
in Washington with emphasis on
international and cultural activi-
ties The plan is to send additional
men to Washington and ma jor con-
sulate posts in the United States as
soon as the Riksdag approves the
proposal.
Fear Of Russia Ingrained.
There is a good reflection of the
general European thought in Swed-
ems embryo reflections on postwar
foreign policy and Germany has
taken note of all them. The whole
anti-Nazi portion of the continent is
looking hopefully to America al
though the Germans are spreading
the story that the United States in
tends to make slaves of European
workers during the after-peace oc-
cupation. The Nazis continue to
conduct their propaganda campaign
of fear against the Russians, with
whom even Foreign Minister Gum
ther comedies need for friendly re-
lations despite the Swedish popu-
larly ingrained fear of Russia.
Red ruthlessness In the Baltic
states before the Germans occupied
them is fed to the fear of Russians
here along with the 1899 attack on
her neighbor, Finland. But the
practical view Of leading govern
ment oficials Is that while perhaps
deplorable tactics were employed by
the Russians in the Baltic and Fin
land, nevertheless 1t is highly un-
likely that the Soviet Union has
designs on Sweden. A belief that