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Show SCiOiiTO HEWS SUMMARY OF IMPORTANT HAP. PENINGS IN FAR OFF NORTHLAND. ITEMS FROM THE OLD HOME Resume of the Most Important Events In Sweden, Norway and Denmark Of Interest to the Scandinavians in America. SWEDEN. "Sweden proclaimed her attitude of neutrality at the very outbreak of the war, and all her actions since that time have borne out that proclamation," said the prime minister of Sweden, Dr. K. II. L. Ilammarskjold, October 5. The premier put stress on his government's govern-ment's desire to follow unswervingly the policy of unpartisanship thus far followed. "Whenever Sweden has taken any step displeasing one or another belligerent power," he continued, "her action has been dictated solely by considerations con-siderations of the kingdom's own ne- cessities and of its future welfare, and not by any partisan reason. We hope sincerely that the belligerents will not make it impossible for us to maintain this attitude unto the end." The premier pre-mier referred to certain measures of the belligerent powers mentioned In the oflicial communication issued on September 22, after the conference of the Scandianavian ministers at Chris-tiauia, Chris-tiauia, particularly the destruction of neutral prizes at sea, interference with neutral shipping, and the "blacklist." Sweden finds itself in harmony with America in its protest against this measure. "The blacklist is objectionable," objection-able," said the premier, "not only because be-cause of its present operation, but because be-cause it will affect the future of the victims. We feel that it constitutes an unjust attempt to deprive certain of our citizens of their rights, and we do not like to see any Swedish subject lose any of his rights as a citizen uu-'.ess uu-'.ess by judgment of the courts. We are glad to know that the United State has taken steps In this matter and we have welcomed other steps by that government in the defense of the rights of neutrals and for the upholding of the rules of international law. I may perhaps say that already before our-conference our-conference at Christiania we had striven to keep feeling with the United States in regard to action in this direction. direc-tion. The Christiania communique lays stress on the desirability of more extensive ex-tensive collaboration of neutrals. We hope that the traditional politics of the United States will not prevent it in the-present the-present exceptional circumstances from interesting itself in such collaboration." collabo-ration." "It is hard for Americans to realize our position," continued his excellency. ex-cellency. "America lies so far away from the scene of the conflict and i so great and so strong economically that it has not yet seriously felt the effect of the war's interference with its normal nor-mal activities. "But the time will come when America will feel it, too. It is impossible that the greater part of the rest of the world should continue indefinitely in-definitely in the present unnatural and chaotic condition without America suffering suf-fering also. "Restrictions which are felt In comparatively small measure by the great America can strike at our very vitals. We are convinced that in our situation the Americans, who appreciate as much as we do the Independence In-dependence of a country and the legal right of its citizens, would feel and act exactly as we do." As to the mediation, media-tion, Premier Hammarskjold said: "Suppose that we should, as things and feelings now are, offer our services as mediator, what would be the result?' It would mean that we should hav& compromised the Central powers, for their enemies would say then that Germany Ger-many had solicited our intervention and that that empire's position must be precarious, and that we should have irritated and angered the Entente powers, pow-ers, who would say that we werer interfering in-terfering to protect their enemies." The minister added with a smile : "Indeed, "In-deed, I am almost afraid to say I hope for peace." About a year and a half ago F. Bjonv donated $50,000 to the Deaconess .hospital .hos-pital at Ersta, near Stockholm, and the-money the-money will be used for the establishn-aws; ment of an old people's home at that place. Interesting archeological finds have been made in Rod island, Jamtland. The objects are mostly from the iron age. But a richly decorated urn Is said, to be very old. Hans Lagerslof, American citizen of Swedish parents, who went to Sweden, on a Swedish-American liner, was held-at held-at Kirkwall by British port authorities and $10,000 in gold he carried was seized. The returns of the recent census show that there are 6,018,002 domestic animals in Sweden. Pulmonary catarrh and fever have kept the queen in bed for several weeks. She is Improving, however. J. F. R. Berling, former treasurer of the Scandinavian Credit Stock company com-pany of Stockholm, distributed about f 90,000 as gifts among a number of benevolent institutions in the capital. All submarines are to be treated by Sweden as war submarines If their employment for commercial purposes Is not established with certainty by common facts. , i |