Swedish Critics
A section of the Swedish Press has endeavoured to take an objective view of the British withdrawal from central Norway, but few of the newspapers have drawn the most obvious con- clusion that concerns small neutrals. Stockholms Tidningen, for example, says the small neutrals have received proof that if they are threatened they must rely on themselves ; but omits to point out that effective self-reliance presupposes taking action in time. If Norway had invited British help before the Germans had arrived the British would have been able to occupy the ports and the aerodromes, and the German attack would have been doomed to failure. As far as Sweden is concerned, she cannot divest herself of responsibility for what has happened to Norway and may happen to Sweden. If she had permitted a British force to pass through her territory to Finland it would have been part of the plan that contingents should have been provided to guard against air-attack from Germany. Or if, again, she had been willing to assist Norway immediately after the invasion the use of Swedish aerodromes would have abun- dantly redressed the balance of force, and the Allies could have dealt with the Germans. There is no criticism that can be advanced in Sweden against the Allies that does not recoil upon herself. That she must rely on herself now and can no longer count upon quick help from the Allies is undoubtedly true ; but that is a situation for which the responsibility is hers.
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