SWEDEN: Thaw

Neutrality thawed perceptibly in Stockholm last week. The careful Swedes:

¶ Finally broke relations with Dr. Josef Tiso’s quisling state of Slovakia, more than half of whose territory is already occupied by the Red Army.

¶ Promptly recognized Eduard Benes’ new Czechoslovak Government (see col. 5).

¶ Belatedly relinquished extraterritorial and other special rights in China.

¶ Approved the formation of a volunteer corps to fight the Germans in Norway.

Most Swedes would frown on the idea of declaring war on Germany now. But it would be no breach in the nation’s 130-year record of neutrality if, after military operations are terminated, Sweden’s army should undertake some police operations —such as clearing Norway of the remaining German divisions, which will then be classed as bandits.