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Show NO HELP FOR THEM. It is going to bo increasingly difficult for tho Scandinavian countries and Holland to get along from now on until tho close of tho war, as they furnish the only gap through which supplies could possibly reach the central powers. pow-ers. Instead of the entente blockade's being relaxed, it will without doubt be made more effective than ever, regardless regard-less of tho rights of the neutral countries coun-tries affected. Tho Norwegians, the Swedes, the Danes and the Dutch realize rea-lize this fact, and, whilo vigorously protesting, pro-testing, eontimio to affirm they will remain neutral to the end. In the meantime they will have the snfisf.ic tim of knowing thM their young men are not being slaughtered or hoprdca.-ly maimed, and that they are not contracting con-tracting war debts they could never pny. The present situation is galling, but worse things could happen to the four littlo countries that serve as a buffer between England and Germany. the trade of the United HtateB has also been bedeviled by the blockade, but the entente allies have been compelled com-pelled to make such heavy purchases over here that all the money and many of the securities of the world arc flowing flow-ing in our direction. Last year Great Britain marshalled the American securities securi-ties for the purpose of regulating the New York exchange upon London, and the Anglo-French loan of nearly $.300,-000,000 $.300,-000,000 followed. Huge amounts of American securities were turned into the British treasury, but the contracts for munitions and foodstuffs reached such vast proportions ' that it became necessary to send over several hundred hun-dred million dollars in gold bars and coin. More loans were negotiated, and now Great Britain has enlarged the plan of mobilization of securities so as to include the British investments in other countries than the United States. Tt is not supposed tho British treasury treas-ury will dispose of any of these securities, securi-ties, but it will hold the right to do so should necessity arise, which will prob-abh' prob-abh' be the case if the war goes on another year or two. The new list covers cov-ers a wide field, and , many of the securities se-curities may be classed as gilt-edged, Their market, value a month ago was in the vicinity of $3,000,000,000, and they do not represent anything like the total amount of British foreign investments. in-vestments. Nevertheless if they should be marketed in this country our annual income would be largely increased and that of Great Britain suffer a corresponding corre-sponding loss. The Scandinavian countries and Holland Hol-land have also gained, rather than lost, by the war, and as they are not being financially wrecked, even though shorn of considerable trade, they will probably prob-ably endure the tightening of the blockade block-ade screws with no thought of resorting to arms when their protests continue to be ignored. Eepresentatives of tho Scandinavian countries are to meet in conference at the Norwegian capital today to consider the situation, but, as the countries mentioned are practically powerless to protect themselves, little or nothing will be accomplished. What they will undoubtedly do is to formulate formu-late a protest against the rigors of the entente blockade, declare their determination determi-nation to maintain loyal and impartial neutrality, and then go home to await the return of peace. The indignation and resentment aroused over the closing clos-ing of the seas to neutral commerce will run high, and may last after the war is ended, but just at the present tkne the opportunity to get even by retaliation is lacking. |