THE H.B. TRIBUNE. WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 11, 1915. SWEDEN’S NEUTRALITY

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume IV, Issue 432, 11 August 1915, Page 4

THE H.B. TRIBUNE. WEDNESDAY , AUGUST 11, 1915. SWEDEN’S NEUTRALITY

’ Atiiixn yesterday’s cables was one which summarised a review by the ■ London ’rimes'" cc.rresoondeni ;it Stockholm of the attitude of Sweden towards the belligerent nations. I’he conclusion at which lie now arrives is Ih:it the weight of public opinion in that country lies on the -.ide of (lermauy as atrunsi Russia, and is consequently adverse to the combination of which Russia is a r laetor. He specially picks out as lieing favourable io tie- cause of (ierinany the y oitngi r officers of the lain), who haie received their rnilit;ir,v t raining in t hat country mid are hus impressed with the perfection of the Prussian military system; the educationalists, who. nil hough it is mJ mentioned irt ilie calde, ar, 1 greatly under llm * influence of tli>' (lermaii “Kiiltiir" which has been introduced into th'' iSctimlina vian universities by 1 lie strong band of (lermaii professors that have been insidiously planted there mui-T a specious system of exchange entirely Haltering to the smaller country ; and Hie larger merchants and trad ers. whose most intimate and profitabb' commercial relation'-, especially since t In* war Legau, have been with lhe big Teiltnnic Empire across the •Baltic. Apart from these special influences in favour oi (ii'initinv. there is also a very st rung popular prejudice against Russia, arising, in the first instance, from rite Mitseo\ite detachment of l-'inltind from Sweden a t ent ur\ or more back, per-

peinatcd by Russia’s harsh treatment of lhe 1-innish people up to quite recent dates, and accentuated by a persistent fear that Russia had designs for securing through Sweden an otii kd to the Atlantic. If so happen' t hat the same day which brought us by cable these later views of -The 'Times’ " correspondent also brought us the issue journal for iiotli .lime last, in which appears a letter from its Stockholm cones pondont .presumably identical with the one now quoted. In I hat letter ho emphasises the I’tici that, ofiiciail.v. the relations between Sweden and Russia were ot the friendliest character, and I hat the Swedish Government had beejj faithful to its policy of absolute neutrality in the European conflict, and had taken every opportunity to show ncighbotodv good feeling. In instance of this lie cites I lie institution of a frosh, postal and passenger route over the | river that forms the boundary be♦wet n Sweden and Russian Finland, thus, by the permission of Sweden. i'-onnecd ing by ferry lhe railway systems of the two countries and at the present lime affording Northern I Russia its best means of comtnunica- ’ ; ion with Western Europe. .He also I then stated that numerous Russian I refugees driven from (.ermanv .had jiieeti treated by the Swedes with, the

1 utumst hospitality and consideration. At the same time. Ito noted that the war itself had but served to »attract fieslt attention io lie importlance to Russia of an tee-tree Atlantic (port. The anxiety caused by this I uad not been fully ttllaved <>y ' Russia's assurances that her need in <ihis respect had been greatly, if not relieved by the instituti<ro of the port of Alexandrovsk on her own northern coast, where the warm waters of Hie Gulf stream operated io keep it virtually free from ice thvonghoul the year. This lei ling of uneasiness, it was said, v. the sole cause of Swedish armaments ami tlie sole argument advanced in favour of their mainten j a nee.

('oinmoniing e<lito rialiy mi its rrfrpondent’s letter, and generally on Sweden's attitude towards the Allies. "The Times admits that nnnouis had recently spread that Swedish sentiment had become less Friendly t<> rhe Allied cause than it was at the beginning of the war. The reasons; assigned for the change were, mainly, an increase in the activity of Gewnan diplomaists ami agents'; a recrudescence of Swedish tears of Russian intentions, couple.l with resentment <>f an alleged curtailment of l-’ii>nish liberties; anti growing irritation <>ver British naval interference with. Swedish trade and 1 mails. -The Times." while recognisilTg the existence of Swedish misgivings with regard to Russia s ultimate airus and also of strong German influences m operation to Increase them, thinks that the sound sense of the Swedish people will be proof against indiscreet inclinations in high ami selfishly interested dart's and pre-vent anything that Knight lead to any movement for the linking' of si<ios. Lt :dso ypi'iills 1-hai. hi was the Km# of Kwpclpd hiinspll I alto took the initiative in the Malmo meeting of the monarch of Sweden. No,wav and Denmark last December in order to place Scandinavian neutrality on a firmer basts. At the -atne time," it says, ’There, is netitrality ami neutrality, and d would Go foolish to ignore the fact that lhere are in Sweden politicians and business men who desire what, may tie called an ‘active-neutrality., that is to say. a mon l definite policy ol ’protest against infractions of neutral |, i-hts bv belligerent- Powers." " I InTimes" ‘ concedes that neutral pro-o-sts should be examined with good will and that grievances should he redressed so far as it bes in our power to redress them. The itnperi ~us demands of our military position tannot hut inflict hardships upon | neutrals, and. even when all has ;,een done to keep such injury wii hm the narrowest limits. It must still he grievous to bear. .Much, ol the trouble, it is contended, might hate j been avoided had the British l -ov I eminent from the first laid dovtn strictly- and definitely its position with regard to neutral trade. '.h |S might- have, elicited strong objections. but it would have admitted ot modifying and conciliating concessions being made, instead ot. as novi. 1 fresh am! irritating restrictions | being from time to time imposert. However, this may be, there is eviIdently sou# spirit of rest jyoness j abroad in Sivedt-u that is inimical to lth<- interests ol the Allies, and that it his is recognised by the British Government is shown by the despatch of a British mission to Sweden, which our cable toffs us has iheen engaged for some wks in an oudeavonr to arrive at a mutually satisfactory solution of the economic difliciilties'that have ari-en- ami ev i Jently these form tin- considerat ion of first importance.

Jt is not. perhaps. altogether foreign to the subject to quote here from "The Times" of the (lay previous l<> that on which its article appeared tin- following account of the Swedish Queen's reception in Berlin, always hearing in mind that she is a. daughter of the Grand Duke f Baden: —"The Queen of Sweden, ’ savs a German wireless message, "is Staving al tin- Hotel Royal in Berlin »n her way to Sweden She was

visit cd |jy Hie .Empress, and later on their Majesties went to lhe New Palace in Potsdam. w*iiere Htcy were enthusiast ically greeted by lhepopu I,’ition. In the evening lhe students bold a torchlight ) irocession in honour <.t I lie Queen <>f Sweden, in which many hundreds of citizens joined. The bands played the Swedish national anthem and thousands nf people joined in tin' singing i.f ‘Deutschland über Alles.' ’i’he Queen invited 'the male and female mem bers of the commit t ce into her presence and wax evidently deeply moied." Strangely enough '•The 'rimes" makes no comment, on this message, and possibly it was deemed 11::IiI ii- tn ignore it.