Conference turris::scandia

146.0. "US-Sweden: a maturing of gov't relations" by TLE::SAVAGE (Neil, @Spit Brook) Thu Oct 09 1986 14:36

    A very nice lady and dear friend named Lucia Olsson (who happens also
    to be my wife's mother) sent me the following clipping from the
    Christian Science Monitor.  For those of you who may not be familiar
    with the CSM, this is very much a main stream and respected journal in
    the greater Boston area. 

The Christian Science Monitor    Monday, 06-OCT-1986          Page 17

             Chilly US-Sweden relations show signs of rapid thaw

                               By David Winder
                                 Staff Writer

    STOCKHOLM, Sweden - United States-Swedish relations are fast coming out
    of the cold. 

    "Sweden is on the minds of policymakers in the United States," says
    Gregory Newell, the US Ambassador here. 

    Sweden, b�te noir of the US during the Vietnam War with its hostile
    attacks on Washington and its support of the Hanoi government, is
    willing to put the past behind it. So too, is the US. 

    The result is a flood of high-level diplomatic activity between the two
    countries that is fueling speculation that Swedish Prime Minister
    Ingvar Carlsson may visit the US. It would be the first visit to the US
    by a Swedish premier since 1962. 

    Asked in an interview if such a visit was in the offing, Ambassador
    Newell said: "There has not been an invitation extended to the Swedish
    Prime Minister. Nor has there been an invitation requested by the
    Swedish Prime Minister."  But he concedes that in the course of the two
    countries' ongoing dialogue, "it's possible that such a high-level
    visit would occur." 

    Other diplomats suggest that the flurry of activity helps create a
    momentum in which a visit by the prime minister is almost a logical
    outcome. 

    At one time, Sweden seemed off limits to US VIPs. But in recent years
    there has been an escalation of high-level visits.  Defense Secretary
    Caspar Weinberger came in 1982, Vice President Bush in June 1983,
    Secretary of State George Schultz in January 1984 and again in March of
    this year for the funeral of slain Prime Minister Olof Palme.  Within
    the last three to four months, Stockholm has also been host to UN
    Ambassador Vernon Walters, Energy Secretary John Herrington, Assistant
    Secretary of State for European Affairs Rozanne Ridgway, Assistant
    Secretary of Labor for International Affairs Robert Serby, and
    Assistant Secretary of State for International Narcotics Matters Ann
    Wrobleski. 

    The dramatic change in bilateral relations is reflected in the fact
    that Sweden's ambassador to the US, Count Wilhelm Wachtmeister, doyen
    of the diplomatic corps in Washington, regularly plays tennis with
    Vice-President Bush. In December 1972, during the bitter Vietnam era,
    the US had refused to accept the credentials of the new Swedish
    ambassador. 

    Although Sweden is a David to the US Goliath, Sweden packs a far
    stronger political and economic punch that its 8.4 million population
    would suggest. 

    Sweden is one of the most influential neutral and nonaligned countries
    in the world.  Also, it recently hosted the successful European
    Disarmament Conference, on confidence building measures in Europe,
    which brought the first East-West security accord in seven years. 

    The door to this improved relationship opened soon after Palme's
    assassination. But it is understood that two substantive discussions at
    the highest level in Stockholm were held during the last days of the
    Palme government -- despite the fact that he had made blistering
    attacks on the US during the Vietnam War. 

    Since then, hostility to the US has largely evaporated.  Significantly,
    Swedish opposition to the Libyan air raid was muted.  Prime Minister
    Carlsson said he couldn't agree with the US action based on
    international law.  But that was all that he said. 

    Dilution of Swedish criticism of the US is in contrast to rising
    concern with the Soviet Union over Afghanistan, the Chernobyl nuclear
    accident, and the intrusion of its submarines in Swedish waters back in
    1981.  But observers of the Swedish scene say that unhappiness with the
    Soviet Union doesn't translate into any Swedish desire to join NATO or
    abandon its deeply cherished attachment to neutrality. 

    The new US-Swedish relationship is based on what is seen as a mature
    acceptance of America's global responsibilities (notwithstanding sharp
    differences over Nicaragua) and Sweden's neutrality. 

    Much of the stimulus for replacing 15 years of drift in US-Swedish
    relations comes from Newell, who became ambassador on Dec. 13, 1985. 

    On Jan. 1, specific US policy priorities were enunciated.  These are
    meant to strengthen the relationship by encouraging high-level
    face-to-face diplomacy, adjusting the imbalance in the trade
    relationship, and periodically reviewing key issues such as terrorism,
    narcotics, disarmament, and regional conflicts. Another priority, one
    which has already been addressed, was to gain Sweden's assurance not to
    divert US high technology to the East bloc. 

    In the past four or five years, the amount of high technology
    re-exported from Sweden to the East bloc has increased two or three
    fold. 

    Under a decree promulgated Feb. 27 and enacted June 1, there will be an
    embargo on certain exports, including automatic data processing
    machines and printed circuits.  The decree also includes curbs on
    exporting items necessary to produce the equipment in the above list.
    The stipulation does not apply to commodities accompanied by a
    certificate with country of manufacture 

    Newell says the regulation hasn't been in effect long enough to assess
    its effectiveness. 

>   Sweden packs a far stronger political and economic punch than its
>   8.4 million population would suggest. 
    
    It helps to have the _truth_ on your side sometimes.  If a friend tells
    you to do something about your problem, it hurts the friendship to have
    to hear that. But it is easier to patch things up after you realize
    that you really had that problem (and still have - Nicaragua). 
    
>   Swedish neutrality.
    
    A carefully studied position; for which the US government ought
    to be properly grateful.  See also, Note 102.    

I'm quite certain that Prime Minister Palme visited the United
States during the Vietnam War when he gave the commencment address
at his alma mater, Kenyon College.

Mr. Palme was not invited to Washington, hence the visit wasn't
"official" in the eyes of our government.

Martin.

.0>                                           ... clipping from the
.0> Christian Science Monitor.  For those of you who may not be familiar
.0> with the CSM, this is very much a main stream and respected journal in
.0> the greater Boston area.          ===========     =========
             
    Aren't Christian Scientists the people who allow their children
    to die rather than seek medical help?  And, in fact, have filed
    suit on Doctors who have attempted to save the lives of their dying
    children?
    
    Perry

    Yes, Christian Scientists do believe that people can heal themselves
    of disease.  An interesting topic of which can stir much debate.
    The religion was started (I think) by a Bostonian by the name of
    Mary Baker Eddy.
    
    However, I believe, too, that the Christian Science Monitor is one of
    the best factual, non-biased journals in publication in the US.  It is
    one of the most widely tranlated and distributed newpapers in the world,
    not only in just the Boston area.  In contrast, I do think that
    newpapers, such as the Boston Globe and New York Times are biased
    to some degree.
    
    George

    Precisely my point in making the original comment about acceptability
    was to draw the distinction between the religion and the publication:
    That some readers of this conference would confuse these two.
    
    Must be a connection somewhere, but it doesn't seem to affect the
    objectivity of the newspaper.

    OK, I can accept that.  However, we have a newspaper down here in
    Washington, DC called "The Washington Times."  It is owned and operated
    by followers of Rev. Moon (the Moonies.)  It is also considered
    a "respectable" and "main stream" newspaper but I still wonder about it.
         
    Perry

    Newsgroups: soc.culture.nordic
    From: [email protected] (Jan Sparrendahl)
    Subject: US discriminates swedish steel
    Sender: [email protected] (Usenet)
    Organization: Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden
    Date: Sat, 5 Dec 1992 22:09:09 GMT
 
    	The United States have again raised punitive taxes against 	
    Swedish steel exports claiming that they are subsidized by the
    government. It is however clear that american officials believes this
    not to be the case. The last remnants of support for the steel
    producers were abolished in 1985. 15% of the world production of
    stainless steel is Swedish. Because of the importance of steel exports
    the Swedish government plans to order the steel producers to pay ransom
    to the United States.
          
    	/A