SWEDEN'S HONOUR AT STAKE

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3187, 11 September 1917, Page 5

SWEDEN'S HONOUR AT STAKE

THE DIPLOMATIC TRICKERY IN ARGENTINA TREMENDOUS SENSATION FURTHER DETAILS OF THE CONSPIRACY London, September 9. Mr. Lansing's revelations have caused a sensation in Great Britain. It 'oppears that the Foreign Office at Stockholm had been acting as a telegraph! office for the German Governmpnt, regularly transmitting German cablegrams in cipher as Swedish Government messages during the past threo years. By this means the German Ministers in various foreign countries were placed in free telegraphic communication with-/ Berlin by handing their messages to ths Swedish Minister, who signed them and dispatched them to Stockholm, from, where they were sent to Berlin. The British Government learned of ther existence- of the system in, the spring of 1915, and told the Swedish Government that unless it ceased it would be necessary to place restrictions _ our Swedish cipher telegrams- using Britishcontrolled cables. Tho Swedish Minister in London promised t"hat tho practice would cease, and ' similar .assurances were given at Stockholm by the Foreign Minister in August, 7915. B> ; admitted that there might at one time - havo been ground for complaint, but nothing of the kind had happened for some'months, and would not occur again.One of Count Luxburg's deciphered messages indicated that an assurance had been given by the Government of Argentina that Argentine 6hips would only clear to Las Palmas. This showa tha't the pretended immunity of Argentine ships accorded with a enow of magnanimity by Germany is a pure farce, because the immunity was secured .by Argentina undertaking. that no Argentine ships would bo found in the war zone.—Kcuter. EXPLANATIONS DUE ' SWEDEN MUST DECLAEE HER POSITION. New York, September 9. The Washington correspondent of tho New York "Times" says that Sweden., will be given an opportunity to explain, the transmission of'the German dispatches from Buenos Aires before the United States takes action. If Sweden, is unable to explain it satisfactorily, then the United States will probably, break off relations. Argentina s dismissal of Count Luxburg is believed to bo inevitable. Argentina will probably break off relations with Germany.The ■ recall of the Swedish representative at Buenos Aires is predicted. .J.O other course will satisfy the IJnitetl States and the. Allies. It is-believed that Sweden will now be compelled to state whether she is remaining neutral or ia on the side, of Germany. The authors ties regard the willingness of the Swedishirepresentatives at Buenos Aires to transmit' to Germany information enabling tho Teutons to learn the time, of sailings, and thus to sink ships, _ as the most important feature of the disclosures, as it places the Swedish Legation at Buenos Aires in the position 01 sanctioning the U-boat- ruthlessness.-Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. •

WAS THE SWEDISH LEGATION DUPED l Washington, September 9. . The Swedish Minister at -Washington (M. Ekengren) was thnndersteuck aC the disclosures. He declares that it is improbable that the Swedish Minister at Buenos Aires could have known of the contents of the dispatches, otherwise Ho would not have allowed them to go forward. The. Swedish who are visiting the United States to arrange for food shipments were shocked at the disclosures. They have telegraphed to the Foreign Office for_anexplanation. The offi^^^ 6 .?^ Legation believe thrt the Legation at Buenos Aires was. duped. . because the Ambassador there as an invalid, and unable to attend to business personally — Reuter. GREAT EXCITEMENT IN BUENOS AIRES

Buenos Aires, September 9. The Luxburg revelations hava caused great excitement. Strong precautions are being taken to prevent anti-German demonstrations.—Aus.-JN.a. Cable Assn. — Septemte 9 . A dispatch from Buenos Aires states that the Swedish Legation has .denied any knowledge of the transmission of German messages. There is much mdig™Ln as the result of the The police have taken special measures to protect, the German and Swedish. Legations.-Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.

EXTREME STEPS UNLIKELY (Kec. Septomber 10, 8.15 p.m.) \ London, September. 10... •While taking a most serious view of the Swedish disclosures, the newspapers think that the Allies are not.likely to take extreme steps, though they have every right to treat Sweden as The papers urge that the strongest blockade measures Bhould be taken aeainst. Sweden—United Service.

) PROBABLE DECLARATION BY ARGENTINE.

(Bee. September 10, 8.15 p.m.) London, September 9. The "Times" AVashington correspondent says that Argentina will Probably declare war against Germany. Tnerelatosof America and Sweden are strained almost to breaking-point-lne. "Times." '. '

A PHRASE TO BEJELL REMEMBERED (Rec. September 11, 1.5. a.m.) London, September 10. The newspapers express the opinion that the words "spurlos versenkt ; meanimr "sunk without a trace left, will to remembered :as long as Hollweg's "Scrap of paper." Luxburg 6 policy explaint"the Hiring on boats' crews like tlie Belgian Prince and the total disappearance of many neutral vessels Sweden will doubtless deny complicity, but tne dismissal of Swedish "presentahves abroad will not satisfy Washington,' wS has evidence that these envoys were acting with the connivance of and, under theVders of the Stockholm authorities: It would be an extreme punSent to throw a whole people into war because of the crimes of theirrnjeis, but tho Allies have a potent instrument in the blockade. , \