5 FEBRUARY 1916, Page 3

Sir Edward Grey's speech in the House of Commons on

Wednesday week about the blockade and the rights of neutrals has been very well received in Sweden. The Times correspon. dent says that the Swedish Press notes with satisfaction that the exaggerated reports as to re-exports from Scandinavia to Germany have been contradicted. There is also much sath'. faction at the declaration that due regard will be bad to neutral rights, and that neutral shipping between neutral poise win ho allowed to pass. The chief criticism is brought against the statement that if neutrals do not recognize and abide by British supremacy at sea, and do not therefore co-operate in keeping trade from Germany, they are not acting as neutrals. The Swedish position is that, however much neutrals may have to submit to Britain's supremacy, the formal recognition of a British right to control trade would be unneutral as regards Germany. That, after all, amounts only to a rearrangement of words. The truth remains the same, that neutrals will and must recognize a properly enforced blockade.