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CHAPTER XVIII
swedish neutrality
The first question—the agonising question of all
questions for me—was that of the side Sweden was going
to take. Would she remain neutral? Would she side
definitely with Germany as Herr von Reichenau
announced to any who wished to listen ?
I knew which were the elements in the country that
advocated an active and immediate alliance with Berlin.
There were, first, the generals and the officers of
the Swedish Army, taken principally from the ranks
of the nobility, who were convinced of the crushing
superiority of the German forces and of their certain
victory, and animated by old grudges against Russia
and the hope of at least taking Finland from us. Then
there were the nobility, the great number of Lutheran
clergy (there is no other in Sweden), and many members
of the universities.
The partisans of neutrality were the Liberals, who
were no longer in power and who were retiring
somewhat defeated though they still had a strong position in
the country, and the Socialists led by M. Branting and
the Baron de Palmstjerna. I knew through reliable
sources that amongst the Swedish lower classes, the
people were averse to the very idea of war; but I also
knew that if war did break out all the same the soldiers
would fight splendidly and that the entire population
would be ready for any sacrifice for the good of the
country.
The very next day I saw M. Wallenberg, who
informed me in carefully chosen words that the
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