SWEDEN'S NEUTRALITY
Sta,—I hesitate to differ from Mr. Gathorne-Hardy's opinion on such a matter ; but I question whether he is right in suggesting that Sweden has not yet decided to change her policy of neutrality, though accepting membership of the United Nations. It is true that in 192o there was much division of opinion in Sweden over whether the country should apply for membership of the League ; but in 1946, as the Foreign Minister has emphasised, the position was different in that the Foreign Relations Committee was unanimous in favour of application, and both Chambers of the Riksdag voted for it. It is true that, at the First Assembly of the League, Sweden was the prime mover in the reaction against a rigorous interpretation of the Sanctions obligations of the Covenant. And of course such a reaction may occur presently against the much more rigorous commitment in the Charter. But it is not true that Sweden has entered into the obligations of the Chatter blindly, or reserving a future freedom to be neutral in cases in which the Charter prescribes solidarity of action.
No words could have been plainer than those in which M. Unden, as Foreign Minister, put this point to the two Chambers of the Riksdag, in explaining the Bill authorising application for membership of the United Nations. " In a case of war that leads to a decision of the Security Council to impose sanctions, the, member States have no right to pursue a policy of neutrality. By entering the organisation Sweden thus accepts that consequence of her action." I have ventured to trouble you with this matter because it seemed to me unfair to our Swedish friends to imply that they would accept the Charter whilst reserving freedom to choose presently whether to accept one of its cardinal obligations. And I suggest that Sweden's acceptance of the principle of non-neutrality in face of declared lawless violence was not made blindly. That this unequivocal declaration comes from Sweden makes it the more significant.—Yours truly, W. ARNOLD-FORSTER. Eagles' Nest, Zennor, St. Ives, Cornwall.
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