The Wanganui Chronicle. TUESDAY, MARCH 16, 1943. SWEDEN’S PREDICAMENT .

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 87, Issue 62, 16 March 1943, Page 4

The Wanganui Chronicle. TUESDAY, MARCH 16, 1943. SWEDEN’S PREDICAMENT .

AN island of democracy in a sea of autocracy, Sweden’s position is a difficult one. Under the circumstances in which Sweden finds herself to-day, with tensions abroad and inside the country to be reckoned with, it appears that the only safe course for the country to follow is to pursue a policy of strict neutrality. This the Government has done and is still doing.

The endeavour is to remain on good terms with both belligerent groups. “If, however, this were not possible,” said Mr. Scold, Minister of Defence, as far back as August, it would be better to be on bad terms with both parties than on bad terms with one and on good terms with the other.” This logic may be regarded as faulty even from the Swedish standpoint. While relations between the Allies and the Swedish Government have remained satisfactory, the German Press has at times engaged in some bad-tempered attacks upon the Swedes, while the Italian Stampa for July 13 cast doubts upon, the genuineness of Swedish neutrality. “When will these supposed democratic oases learn that Europe is conducting a battle for life and death?” it asked. When Sweden protested to Russia after having found Russian markings upon fragments of torpedoes used in sinking four Swedish ships by unknown submarines, the Soviet Government maintained that the submarines must have been German and that Russian markings had been put on the torpedoes in order to cause friction between Sweden and Russia.

Besides being isolated, which impels Sweden to the path of neutrality, the people are by no means of one mind. There have been doubts expressed in the Swedish papers concerning the trustworthiness of some of the army officers. There are pro-Nazis among the upper-class officers who are alleged to be engaged in poisoning the spirit of the army, and some officers alleged to be pro-Nazi have been promoted. The Defence Minister, however, asserted that no one had been promoted to a leading post in the Government or the Forces “of whose loyalty the authorities were not convinced.” On August 30 at Karlskoga he said: “We know very well the names of all those whose loyalty to the State is questionable. Their number is fortunately small.” On the following day an official statement was issued ordering rigid investigation into possible fifth column activity in the Army. Another commission was appointed at the same time to investigate Nazi activity in the Stockholm police force. Meanwhile the public mind, disturbed by what it knows and what it feels, has been susceptible to other influences. Anti-Nazi demonstrations have occurred in various parts of the country, while the Swedish Press has been outspoken in its sympathy with Norwegian patriots and has been condemnatory of the severe measures taken by the Germans and the Quisling Government. Many Norwegian sailors have escaped from German ships when visiting Swedish ports. Over four million kroner have been collected in Sweden to assist Norway’s war sufferers. On the other hand the general attitude toward Finland is sympathetic and the Swedish Committee to help Finland has collected over eighteen million kroner, but the schism between the Finnish Finns and the Swedish Finns in the face of Finland’s present danger has engendered some angry Press comment in Sweden. '

Sweden’s apprehensions have not, decreased but have become more acute. Recognising that the Allies are concerned to protect the sea lane to Northern Russian ports, a drive from Russia across Finland and a landing by American and Canadian forces on the coast of Norway are possibilities which amount to probabilities, the Swedes must be ready to meet a demand by the Germans to send troops through Sweden to avoid this northern junction. “Beyond doubt we will defend ourselves,” declared Sweden’s Prime Minister, referring to the possibility of a blitz being sprung on Sweden. The Dagens Nyheter said plainly that “the country must be ready to meet blitz attacks, especially by enemy air forces,” adding that, “Swedes have enough courage to face reality, even the reality of war. ’ ’ The possibility of invasion being aided by fifth columnists haunts the minds of the Swedes, which is natural enough after the experience of their neighbour country Norway. False orders broke down the possibility of resistance in Norway, and so Prime Minister Hannsen is making it plain to all tliaT in the case of invasion resistance to the utmost is the order of the day. and that orders to the contrary arriving from no matter what source are to be ignored. In December further classes were called to the army to strengthen it against the possibilities of invasion during 1943. The situation in Sweden is tense, and the possibility of a Quisling betrayal being staged is not to be left out of reckoning, but a determined effort will be made to overcome such action and to put up a stubborn defence against any invader. Small wonder that Sweden is unpopular with the Axis Powers.