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

One in q series on Swedens re-
opproisol OF her traditional policy
Of neutrality.
den was not occupied. But her
isolation, plus the strong army
she built when Germany threat
ened. kept her free and un-
harmed. The Swedes conclude
that their old neutral disarmed
policy was wrong, but that the
wartime neutral-well armed
policy was success and still is.
There has been some debate
over this policy. A pro-NATO
minority-mostly young people.
liberals and intellectuals-say
the policy has two faults: It
will, in the long run, leave the
country too weak. and it shirks
Sweden's obligations to her
Western friends.
1t certainly will be difficult |
for Sweden to maintain the
strength to be neutral. Sweden
obviously needs atomic weapons
and missiles, but even if the
difficult political decision to
build them is made. the build
ing will be slow. and indefinite |
maintenance of a modern
atomic army will be too expen-
Sive.
The pro-NATO people say
Sweden some day will have to
associate herself in some way
with the common Western de-
Tense or give UP the attempt to
remain Strong-and free.
The pro-NATO group accuse
the majority of lodging it's re-
sponsibility for the common de-
Tense but of expecting at the
same time that the West would
come to Sweden's aid If
trouble really started.
Whether or not Sweden is
lodging a responsibility is a
difficult judgment for an Amer
lean to make. For Sweden's po-
sition is the same as Americas
old isolation policy that de-
pended for many decades on
Britain's ability to keep Conti-
mental despotism from spread
ing.
Nation Strong Now
From a military point of view,
it is difficult to say that Swe-
den could contribute a great
deal if it joined NATO. Right
now Sweden is strong and is in
effect helping NATO defend
Scandinavia. And probably
Scandinavia won't be an i'm
portant theater of war.
But if Sweden does not have
atomic weapons. this area could
become a military vacuum in
the future. Sweden is. however,
moving slowly and reluctantly
toward a nuclear defense.
1t can be argued that Swed-
ish neutrality helps the West.
Sweden prevents a sharp di-
vision from existing in the
north between the Soviet bloc
and the West. This is the sort
of disengagement-the sort of
cooling-off zone-that Western
leaders yearn for in Central
Europe Sweden helps keep Fin
land free. And she can act as
bridge between East and West
in Europe whenever one is
needed.
The Swedes. through their
participation in the United Ma
tons. do help to influence in
ternational affairs. What would
they like right now?
L. Sired Talks Backed
Every Swede in or out of the
government whom this reporter
talked with was anxious for
close and continued negotiation
between Russia and the United
States. The Swedes have no
bright new plans to offer. but
they believe that continual ne
gotiation. in private, will help
in the long run to ease the
cold war.
The Polish proposals for a
de-atomized zone in central
Europe and the Kennan plan
for withdrawal from Germany
of American and Russian ar
mics interest the Swedes. The
Prime Minister said he had
read the plans with care and
with interest and he believes
they could be used as a basis
Of negotiation. But he said that
any settlement which took
American troops out of Europe
would be viewed with disfavor
by Swedes. Both the Polish
and KEENAN, plans would do
Just this. most European gov
ernments have decided
Sweden wants the West to
keep strong and keep negotiat-
ing. She will leave the nego-
tiations up to the United States
and hopes the West will not
mind leaving Swedish defense
IN 70 Cmodan