The British Legation in Stockholm has asked that the following
communication be published:
Since misunderstandings have arisen which are evidently
due to a wrong translation of an incomplete outline of a
proposed contract with Aktiebolaget Transito, concerning
their control of goods which are sent to and from Russia
in transit through Sweden, the British Legation has the
honor to make the following statement:
An arrangement has now been made between the English and
Swedish Governments, by which the English Government
grants licenses for the export to Sweden of articles on
the English list of prohibited exports, in exchange for
which the Swedish Government grants England and Russia
licenses to ship through Sweden articles which are on
the Swedish list of prohibited exports. By this means it
is hoped that the usual traffic between England and
Sweden will be kept up.
Unfortunately it has sometimes happened that goods, for
which the English Government has issued licenses for
export to Russia, or vice versa,
have gone astray on their way through Sweden and have
not reached their destination. This has naturally made
the countries which grant licenses for export through
Sweden, suspicious. If they did not regain confidence,
Swedish interests would be doubly injured, first because
of the decrease in the quantity of transit goods, and
secondly because of the difficulty of getting enough
material from England to fill the demand in Sweden
Under these circumstances it is evident that something
must be done to make it absolutely certain that goods
which pass through Sweden in transit reach their
destination. Therefore one of the chief duties of
Aktiebolaget Transito is to see that the goods reach
their destination, either in England or Russia.
[Page 288]
As the system which has been arranged for the exchange of
licenses demands a very careful and rather extensive
bookkeeping, which the Legations cannot very well attend
to themselves, it was necessary to come to an agreement
with some Swedish concern.
Thus the work of Aktiebolaget Transito, inasmuch as it
will insure the arrival at its destination of goods
which pass through Sweden in transit, will reestablish
and strengthen the confidence in the transition
traffic.
The British Legation wishes to refute all statements that
have been made to the effect that it was their object to
establish a monopoly either in steamship traffic or spedition, which would in any way
injure Swedish interests. On the other hand the only
things which will influence the British authorities when
choosing routes will be cost and safety. But it must be
taken into consideration that because of these two
things a great deal of the traffic has hitherto taken
place via Norwegian ports and therefore there will be no
change to the detriment of Swedish interests. On the
other hand the transoceanic traffic via Göteborg and
Stockholm, which has hitherto been looked upon with much
suspicion, because of which the boats have been brought
to England, will hereafter enjoy greater freedom because
of the agreement with Aktiebolaget Transito.
Furthermore the public should take special notice that
Aktiebolaget Transito will have nothing whatever to do
with goods for Swedish consumption, but will only take
charge of goods which pass through Sweden in transit to
Russia or England.
It must be admitted that the respective governments have
a right to look out for these goods without in any way
encroaching on Swedish sovereignty or national
rights.
