NationStates Jolt Archive

Sweden, horrified by the carnage in Europe and concerned about the possibilities of hostilities with the newly independant Norway, has begun a limited mobilization, increasing the hours of training required from each conscript, and calling in her battleships for crash refittings. Sweden also plans on imbedding observers in the armies of any belligerant that will take them.

To: Swedish Government
From: Sir Edward Grey - Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs,
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and it's colonies worldwide.

Dear sirs,
Firstly may I congratulate you on your sense for remaining neutral in this war which is tearing up Europe (and, indeed, the World). It is a highly sensible move and can only bring prosperity to your nation.

I believe that our nations have much to gain from increased co-operation and would like to propose a trade agreement between us. Britain would reduce tariffs on Swedish goods entering the country and Sweden would do the same to British goods entering hers. Trade would increase between our nations and our economies would benefit substantially. I hope that you will consider this matter.

Yours,
Sir Edward Grey

The Riksdag has been fending off suggestions from the hawkish members of the more conservative parties that Sweden should take advantage of the current turmoil in Europe to close the Baltic to Russian and German shipping and attempt to seize Finland. So far, there are very few supporters of this plan, but those who do are quite vocal.

The Swedish military, though terribly skeptical of the effectiveness of heavier than air aircraft, have been conducting test trials of blimps, attempting to asertain whether they can be fitted to carry torpedos and depth charges. Further spending has been allocated towards developing a submarine fleet.


To: Sir Edward Grey - Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and it's colonies worldwide
From: Barbro Andor - Head of Office and Minister for Foreign Affairs
Kingdom of Sweden

Sirs,
We appriciate the compliment you have paid us, and are equally glad that the United Kingdom and her Dominions have not entered this catastrophic war.
We hope to maintain our neutrality, but are not convinced it will nessisarily be respected by the belligerants.

While concerned about the effects of opening our markets to British goods, we are willing to experimentally lower tariffs on British textiles, in return for free access to your iron and lumber markets.

Your obedient servent,
Barbro Andor

To: Swedish Government
From: Sir Edward Grey - Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs,
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and it's colonies worldwide.

A temporary test period is acceptable to us, say we try it for perhaps a year and then reevaluate based on the findings?

Textiles in exchange for Lumber and Iron is perfectly acceptable to us and I will inform the Chancellor of the Exchequer of the situation immediately. I look forward to a long and co-operative future between our nations.

Sir Edward Grey - Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs

To His Excellency Barbro Andor, Head of Office and Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Sweden

Your Excellency,
It has come to our attention that there is a party in your government that advocating the abandonment of your present, wise neutrality, in favor of open support for the Latin League.
It is frankly difficult, sir, for anyone in Sankt-Peterburg to imagine how anyone in Stockholm could so completely misconstrue the true interests of the Swedish Kingdom.
Consider.
Whatever the outcome of the present conflict, both the Russian and German Empires will survive, and both Hohenzollern and Romanov memories are long for friend and foe alike.
Moreover, both Russia and Germany are neighbors, as it were, to Sweden, whereas distant lands such as Austria or Spain can exercise but little power over the Baltic region, and even the mighty French Republic cannot assist in the defense of the Swedes without first defeating the German Empire—-a task which yet remains to be accomplished, if indeed it is even possible.
Nor has Russia nor Germany provided Stockholm with any cause for concern regarding our position in Scandinavian affairs. To be blunt, sir, both Berlin and Sankt-Peterburg have been occupied with other matters, and have not had the time to contemplate any projects in Scandinavia even if we had had the inclination.
Which I assure you, we do not. If we had, you would have known ere now.
Howbeit, I can understand the fear of a powerful neighbor, when his intentions are unknown. And so I wish now, in the name of the Emperor, to extend my most sincere assurances that Russia does not, and does not contemplate having, any intentions of conflict with Sweden. We are willing, furthermore, to guarantee Sweden’s borders in perpetuity, and contract a Mutual Non-Aggression Pact of indefinite duration with Stockholm. We are furthermore interested in exploring the possibility of a Trade Agreement between our states, which we believe would be most profitable to both our peoples.
I say again, Sankt-Peterburg will not disturb the peace between us, sir. Only Stockholm can do that, and it is our earnest hope that cooler heads will prevail.

With great respect,
Graf V. N. Lamzdorf, Minister of foreign affairs for the All-Russian Empire

To: The Swedish Government

The Swedes have the respect of the French. They have after all, avoided being drawn into this conflict on either side. Should you ever have need of assistance, do not hesitate to ask. France is willing to stand by all nations who require assistance against belligerent nations.

Yours,

Prime Minister Jacques Castet

From: Kaiser Wilhelm
To: The Swedish Government

My dear friends!

I, as well as the German people, are saddened at the hostility of the Swedes!As a strong friend and neighbor, as well as close blood, we are somewhat puzzled at your attention to the Latins, who share no blood with the strong and loyal Swedes! In fact, I am a bit curious as to why the Swedes have not defended their friends. However, I will not hold that against you, and would like to offer you some incentives for continuing in peace with the Coalition.

Germany believes that now is the time for the Balts to rise to power. I believe now is the best time for us to establish a trade agreement between the Baltic states: Denmark, Sweden, Russia, and Germany. If extending it further, once this horrible war is concluded, to a defense pact, Germany would open its ears wide for the wise words of the Swedes.

If there is anything that Germany can offer our friend, Sweden, all I ask is that you ask.

OOC: I'm going to hold off on replying to this. I just found a thread where denmark invades Sweden, and I need to find out if that went through or not. If so, then Sweden will enter the war on the russians and germans, provided they can garuntee the return of Oslo.

No, that didn't go through. We, the Mods, browbeat Moorington for total non-realism until he submitted.

OOC: sorry so long in replying, life interfered. I hope no one will be offended if I reply to all posts in one uber message. Also this is predated to during the war.

IC

The kingdom of Sweden apologizes profusely for any unwise statements made by some of the more jingoistic parties. Stockholm has no intentions of entering the current conflict on either side, and appreciates the messages of friendship and solidarity we have received from all our neighbors.

Further, Sweden is willing to enter into a preferred trade relationship with any nation that is willing to guarantee the inviolability of Swedish shipping. Any vessel that attempts to enforce a blockade against a Swedish vessel will be escorted out of the Baltic should it ever be detected there. Upon a second offence from the same vessel, said vessel will be impounded in a Swedish port until suitable arrangements can be made with the vessel’s owner.

OOC: This is largely an empty gesture, as I doubt any French ships will be entering the Baltic and France is the only nation attempting to blockade another. But should any vessel impede the trading of a Swedish vessel, it’s name, owner, and registry number will be recorded, and it will not be permitted in the Baltic. Well… as far as Sweden can ENFORCE it, anyway =)

OOC: sorry so long in replying, life interfered. I hope no one will be offended if I reply to all posts in one uber message. Also this is predated to during the war.

IC

The kingdom of Sweden apologizes profusely for any unwise statements made by some of the more jingoistic parties. Stockholm has no intentions of entering the current conflict on either side, and appreciates the messages of friendship and solidarity we have received from all our neighbors.

Further, Sweden is willing to enter into a preferred trade relationship with any nation that is willing to guarantee the inviolability of Swedish shipping. Any vessel that attempts to enforce a blockade against a Swedish vessel will be escorted out of the Baltic should it ever be detected there. Upon a second offence from the same vessel, said vessel will be impounded in a Swedish port until suitable arrangements can be made with the vessel’s owner.

OOC: This is largely an empty gesture, as I doubt any French ships will be entering the Baltic and France is the only nation attempting to blockade another. But should any vessel impede the trading of a Swedish vessel, it’s name, owner, and registry number will be recorded, and it will not be permitted in the Baltic. Well… as far as Sweden can ENFORCE it, anyway =)
OoC: Also pre-dated to during the War, Russia will agree to guarantee inviolability of Swedish shipping in exchange for trade preferences.

http://www.geonames.de/coa-no.gif
To the Government of Sweden, Stockholm

Ever since the independence of Norway in 1905 our two countries, regardless of whatever treaties we may have signed, have been far less cordial then we should have been. We have underwent mobilization, and counter mobilization, and at the current rate of things it looks as if Norway and Sweden are in a collision course for yet another war, when with all due respect, we should be working together for a more united Scandinavia.

With that said, I wish to invite your lead representative [OOC: I was looking through the history of Sweden, but it didn't give me a name for a king, so I'm not exactly sure what type of government Sweden had after the seccession of Norway] to the Norwegian city of Hamar, some seventy-five kilometers north of Oslo, and some fifty from the Swedish border.

There, with your goals set in your mind, I suggest that Norway and Sweden sit down, and pave the way for a united Scandinavia, that would be able to defend itself, and perhaps even perpetuate itself throughout the world.

I await your response.

[signed]Haakor VII

The Republic of Haiti wishes to open relations with Sweden. We have valuable coffee, sugar, and bauxite up for trade. In return, we require silver, copper, cement, lumber, and steel. We also are in need of skilled workers to help train our citizens(teachers, engineers, doctors...).