• NORWAY AND SWEDEN
Sia,—The Hon. Harold Nicolson, after his visit to Sweden, makes theq points: (r) The ideal of gentlemanly conduct is very operative in Sweden today.
(2) The Swedes ask for recognition and gratitude from nobody . They are hurt that the Norwegians should not be more grateful. . . This absence of gratitude, or even of ordinary human recognition . . (3) Sweden's neighbours regard the comforts of neutrality with cmious anger.
Is it really necessary to speak disparagingly of Norway in order to give the virtues of Sweden's neutrality sufficient prominence? Is it „right to disregard the fact that the Norwegian Government cover all expenses for the maintenance of Norwegian refugees in Sweden? Can it be that the Swedish hosts have also omitted to inform their British visitor of all the expressions of gratitude given by the Norwegian authorities on every possible occasion? May I point out, Sir: (1) Norway has not for one moment disputed Sweden's right to stay neutral in the fight between Germany and the Allies.
(2) Norway demands nothing but loyalty, and first of all from her brothers-in-arms.
(3) The Norwegian people do not envy the neutrals. They bear their terrible sufferings without complaint. They know that without the utmost exertion freedom will not be saved, neither for us nor for our neighbours.
—Yours faithfully, TORALV OKSNEVAD.
Kingston .House, Princes Gaze, London, S.W. 7.
SIR,—One may endorse Mr. Harold Nicolson's commendation of the humanitarian acts of Sweden at the present time, but when he protests the "realistic conscience" of Sweden, events no further back than the invasion of Norway inevitably come to mind. Ever since the beginning of the last war the solidarity of the Scandinavian peoples has been con- stantly affirmed and believed in—supported as it was by many meetings of the "three Kings." But when the blow -fell on Norway, what did Sweden do? It is very difficult, with all the goodwill in the world, to avoid the feeling that Sweden's inaction was one of the most inglorious of the sad events of these times, and we might have been spared Mr. Nicolson's report of Sweden's pain at Norwegian ingratitude. Would Hitler leave risked the attack on Norway if he had believed that Sweden would rally to the defence of her cousins and Allies?—I am, yours,
Previous page
