774 
THE AMERICAN-SCANDINAVIAN REVIEW 
Sweden 
The admission of Sweden to a position in the Council of the League 
of Nations has naturally roused much satisfaction among Swedes and 
has even to some extent stimulated interest in the League itself. 
That Branting should be the Swedish representative has been regarded 
by all parties as a foregone conclusion, but is seems obvious that he 
can not undertake this additional task without being relieved of some 
of his former duties. He has held the positions of prime minister and 
foreign minister, a combination of offices never before united in one 
person in Sweden. It is considered most likely that he will retain 
the portfolio of the foreign ministry, which can most naturally be 
combined with his interests as Sweden’s representative in the League 
of Nations, and that he will resign the premiership to one of his 
colleagues. CJ The elections to the provincial assemblies held through¬ 
out the country in September show a distinct tendency toward the 
right. The Conservatives have strengthened their position in all but 
two provinces. The Socialists have gained in fifteen provinces, but 
have lost mandates in three. The Left Socialist and Communist 
groups have gained a few seats, the Agrarians lost a few. The 
Liberal party has, on the whole, retained its old mandates, about one 
hundred in all. Inasmuch as members of the first chamber in the 
Riksdag are appointed by the local self-governing bodies, the Septem¬ 
ber elections are significant as showing the complexion of the next 
Riksdag. It appears that the position of the Conservatives will be 
somewhat strengthened at the expense of the Liberals. The wage 
conflict which broke out in a few of the railways of the country during 
the latter part of the summer has spread to roads not at first affected. 
The peace proposals of the official arbitrator were rejected by the 
workmen. The private roads have declared their striking employees 
to be dismissed and are carrying on a limited traffic with new people. 
^ The necessity of practising economy in the public departments and 
curtailing the power of officialdom has forced the government to try 
to create a similar body to the so-called Geddes Commission in Eng¬ 
land. Director-General Sodermark, head of the exchequer, has been 
charged with the duty of investigating, with the aid of the staff in the 
Department of Finance, the possibility of abolishing a number of 
positions in the various public departments. CJ In spite of vigorous 
efforts, the Swedish football players have not hitherto succeeded, 
except sporadically, in maintaining as high an international position 
as Sweden occupies in other lines of sport. They have often gone 
down to defeat before the teams of the neighboring countries. This 
summer, however, has been devoted to methodical training with the 
result that the Swedish national players have been victorious first 
over the Norwegians, 5 to nothing, and then over the Danes, 2 to one. 
