Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1958-02-23

kAANAA EN SAlANilt Va viz 4lOAAN illt
which are full-fledged membeI
here are good, and there is an
obvious will to use them in
time of attack. There is also
a determination to maintain
the quality of the armed forces,
even to match Russia's atomic
capability.
Then in what way is Sweden
neutral?
Merely in that it will not
JON NATO.
But with the exception of a
handful of Communists, all of
Sweden'S Sympathies are with
the West. Sweden views Soviet
Russia exactly the same way as
does America or any of the
European allies.
Along on Defense
For various reasons, widely
accepted here, Sweden has de-
cided to defend her territory
alone Norway and Denmark
have declined to organize
scandinavian Joint defensive
alliance and to maintain her
own small balance of terror"
with Russia.
Why does Sweden have a
neutral policy? Prime Minis
ter Tage Erlander exclaimed mis-
country's position to The Star
in this way:
Sweden. as with all other
countries, bases its foreign
policy on its own experience.
So one reason for our present
policy is that Sweden has been
at peace for $50 years. Neu-
trality has helped us keep out
of war, so we want to continue
our policy of neutrality.
Another reason is that a
small country has little posi-
bility of influencing, through
its own strength. the balance
between East and West.
Also. We believe that the
world needs to have some ma
tons which stand away from
all military alliances. An out
slider can be of help in a dis
pute.
And. finally, We canot form
our own policy without think
ing of its influence on Fin
land"
Reasons Accepted
The great majority of Swedes
accepts these reasons. Only
minority still urges that Swe-
den join NATO.
The present concept of Swed-
lSh defense is this.
If Sweden were defenseless.
then Russia probably would
move in to fill the vacuum.
But if Sweden has a strong de-
fense-and if all of Western
Europe is defended well-then
there will probably be no war.
Specifically. Russia will not
consider the occupation of
Sweden to be worth the cost of
defeating this country.
II there is a general war. if
Russia attacks the West. the
chances are the fighting will
ignore Scandinavia as long as
Scandinavia is well defended.
But if Russia does move into
Scandinavia. her detectives will
be to sail her fleet out of the
Baltic through Swedish, Danish
and Norwegian waters. and to
occupy the northern coast of
Norway moving across north
ern Sweden. These two moves
would be necessary if Russia
wanted to control the North
Atlantic.
The Swedish defense is de-
signed to deny Swedish terri
tory to Russia in these two
moves.
Fleet Is Modern
The navy, with five cruisers
(some actually pocket-hattle-
ships, % destroyers and fast
frigates. and 80 motor torpedo
boats. is modern and ready to
hight against an enemy having
atomic weapons.
The air force. flying Swedish
designed planes. is as good for
its size as anyone's fighter and
tactical bomber force. Sweden
has 80 fighter squadrons and IL
hghter-bomber Squadrons.
The army is well-equipped
with new Swedish and British
built armor. The Swedes could
mobilize ,000-man army in
q few days.
All this leaves Sweden about
as we'll protected as any area
of NATO, except places where
America maintains tactical
atomic units. The Swedish de-
fensive effort lacks one thing.
however: Coordination with
the main European defense.
Sweden cannot take part in
the radar warning network or
the joint air defense program.
And in time of war there would
be no preparation for allied
assistance to Sweden, or vice
versa.
Why. If Sweden wants a strong
defense. can't she go whole hog
and join her sister Scandina-
Wan countries in NATO?
Prime Minister Erlander has
given the governments reasons,
but there are additional rea-
sons. Most Swedes agree that
the different World War II ex-
perience of Sweden and Norway
and Denmark made it inevita-
BILE that Sweden be out of NATO
and Denmark in it.
Policy a Success
Norway and Denmark were
occupied. and the people of both
countries decided their historic
policies Of neutrality and dis
armament were wrong and that
they needed strong allies. Swe-
Ann n nnA1 - a.