SWEDEN’S PERIL

Evening Star, Issue 15479, 29 April 1914, Page 10

SWEDEN’S PERIL

FROM THE COLOSSUS OF THE NORTH. Dr Sven Hedin, the famous Asiatic traveller, is pessimistic on account of Sweden’s future, fearing that the northern kingdom will be mopped up by Russia whenever she is ready. Producing a maj of Europe to a Press interviewer the other day, he showed the strategic railways built, building, or projected by Russia. The new bridge over the Neva is completed, he pointed out, and when the strategic railways aro all ready Russia will be able to send easily and rapidly great forces of troops from the capital and the interior of Russia to numerous points on the Finnish coast from Tornea to Viborg. It is generally supposed that the number of Russian troops at present in Finland is about 60,000 —“and such an army cannot be to keep Finland in order.’’ “But might not these Russian doings in Finland be defensive, say, against a German attack in a war between Russia and Germany, which, however remote, would have to be considered by the Russian

military authorities?” “ I grant that,” returned Dr Hedin; “ but it does not do away with the danger we face. There has for a long time been much talk in Russia to the effect that a sort of alliance exists between Germany and Sweden. There is no such thing, of course. But it is easy to imagine how Sweden might be dragged into a war between two such Powers. Recent events have shown us what slight consideration the weak receive when they stand in the way of the strong, and how a country is only safe if it knows how to look after itself.” “And do you think that Sweden, however well armed, could hope eventually to be successful in a struggle against a great Power?”—“ Well, look at our history. We are a stubborn .people. We have kept our freedom and fought through mow* than one great war. Well armed, Sweden can present a strong front, with its narrow, shallow, island-strewn waters and the rough country in its north. At any rate, it is our duty to see that we are in a position to do our very best.” “And Norway?”—“Yes, Norway is to some extent involved, too. I am glad to say that the relations between the two countries are excellent. But a weak Norway would not only tempt warring nations, but might, by its weakness, be compelled to take the field against us.” Dr Hedin, of course, knows Russia perhaps better than most people. He cannot shut his eyes to the relentless striving of the Muscovite towards warm seas, to ports on open oceans. As the ‘Novoe Yremya’ recently said, Russia, if she is to carry out hex historic destiny, “requires an outlet on those world-seas which compare with her in greatness.” And for 200 years she has worked to that end. “What divides Russia from the Atlantic?” asks the explorer. “ From Tornea, the end of the Finnish railway system in the north, to Lvngenfjord is only about 2-90 miles, to Navrik 260. But from the most north-westerly point of the Russian frontier to Lyngenfjord is only 20 miles! From Vasa to Umea is but 75 miles, and from Aland to Griselehamm only 27. Can you be surprised that we feel that there is a danger?” And Dr Hedin thinks Russia is not likely to consider these as formidable barriers to ad* vance towards the Atlantic. He declares that Sweden ought to be warned by the doleful fate of Finland, and he recalls an incident in his journey to Teheran in 1890. “I was talking, during my travels in Elbure, with a vizier of the Shah regarding the future of Persia. He said to met ‘Put it down in your note book that I have told you to-day that in 20 years Persia will no more be an independent country.’ Even then Persia recognised th© danger threatening her, but she has not been strong enough to withstand it. I only wish 'Sweden not to be in that miserable position.” Dr Hedin advocates, as the most important consideration, a considerable of the Swedish Navy, for he says an array without a navy is blind.