Commerce. — The imports for 1917 were £41,773,733 and the exports £76, 465,387. The chief articles of import were minerals, chiefly coal, metal goods and machinery, animals, textile manu factures, and hair, hides and other ani mal products. The principal exports were wood, pulp, paper, and paper man ufactures, metals, timber, metal goods, and minerals. Prior to the World War Germany took the greater part of the exported goods. The second place was occupied by Great Britain, the third by Norway, and the fourth by Denmark. The imports were chiefly from Germany, Denmark, the United States, Great Brit ain, Norway and the Netherlands.
Transportation.—There are about 10, 000 miles of railway in the country, of which about 3,400 belong to the state. There are about 50,000 miles of tele graph wire and about 400,000 miles of telephone wire. There are over 1,000 sailing vessels in the merchant marine and nearly 20,000 steam and motor ves sels.
Education.—There are about 20,000 elementary schools, with about 25,000 teachers and 715,000 pupils. In 1918 there were 77 public secondary schools, with 26,313 pupils; 49 people's high schools, with 2,976 pupils; 15 normal schools for elementary teachers; and elementary technical schools, navigation schools, military schools, agricultural schools, and other special schools. An elementary education is compulsory and free. The universities are at Upsala and at Lund. There are also private univer sities at Stockholm and at other cities.
Finance.—The revenues and expendi tures in 1920 balanced at £38,981,167. The public debt amounted to £59,811,509.
Army and Navy.—Military service is universal but is aided by a voluntary enlisted personnel. Liability to service begins at the age of 20 and lasts till the end of the 42d year. The field army consists of 6 divisions, with a total peace strength in 1920 of 86,507. The total number of military age is about 650,000.
The navy is entirely a coast defense force. It includes 13 vessels, varying from 3,700 to 7,180 tons. In addition there were in 1920 10 destroyers, about 50 torpedo boats, and about 14 sub marines.
Government.—A constitutional mon archy. The King of Sweden, formerly also King of Norway, must be a mem ber of the Lutheran Church. His person is inviolable. He has the right to de clare war and make peace, and grant pardon to condemned criminals. He nominates to all appointments, both mili tary and civil; concludes foreign treaties, and has a right to preside in the su preme court of justice. The king has an absolute veto against any decrees of the Diet, and possesses legislative power in matters of provincial administration and police. In all other respects, the foun tain of law is the Diet. This Diet, or Congress of the realm, consists of two Chambers, or estates, both elected by the people, but representing different inter ests.
History.—The two kingdoms, Gothland and Svealand, of which Sweden once con sisted, were united in the 13th century by the failure of the royal line in the former. In 1397 by the treaty of Cal mar, Sweden became subject to Margaret of Denmark, who has been styled the Semiramis of the North, and who joined the three kingdoms in one. Gustavus Vasa asserted the independence of Sweden and ascended the throne in 1521. He bequeathed the crown to his posterity, who continued to reign, and in general with distinction; but most of them, and in particular, Gustavus Adolphus, his daughter Christina, Charles XII., and Gustavus III., discovered a romantic spirit approaching, in the case of Charles XII., to a degree of infatuation. This dynasty ended in a prince (Gustavus IV.) who had all the eccentricity and hardly any of the talents of his pre decessors. In 1809 this last monarch en gaging in undertakings totally beyond the resources of his people, was deposed; and next year Marshal Bernadotte of France was elected crown prince, and in 1818 as Charles John XIV., ascended the
throne. In 1814 Norway was annexed to Sweden (see NORWAY ) . In 1857 Charles XV. succeeded his father, Oscar I., and died in 1872, leaving the crown to his son, Oscar II., who reigned thirty five years.
During the reign of Oscar II. many important measures of economic and social reform were adopted. These in cluded accident insurance for working men, limitation of working hours for women and children, and factory legisla tion. In 1905 the union between Norway and Sweden was peaceably dissolved. (See NORWAY.) King Oscar died in 1907 and was succeeded by his son, Gustavus V. In 1909 a bill establishing manhood suffrage for elections to the Lower House, and effecting changes in the qualifications for the members of the Upper House, was passed. At the out break of the World War in 1914, Sweden declared her neutrality. On December 18, 1914, a conference was held at Mal mo, in which the kings of Sweden, Nor way and Denmark took part. As a re sult of this meeting an agreement to defend the neutrality of these countries and to protect their economic interests, was made. During the early part of 1915 the Swedish Government com plained to Great Britain against the ar bitrary detention and interference with neutral vessels bound for Sweden. Great Britain based its action on the claim that contraband in large quantities had been imported into Germany by way of Sweden. In order to avoid complications, the Swedish Government published a de tree prohibiting exportation to any bel ligerent country of war munitions or of any material which might be used in their manufacture. A second conference between the rulers of the Scandinavian countries was held in February, 1915. A protest was published against the creation of a war zone by Germany. Throughout the progress of the war there were complaints against both sides on the part of Sweden for alleged viola tion of her neutrality. In January, 1916, the king urged the strengthening of the Swedish military establishment in order that the country might be prepared against any possible violation of its neu trality. As a result of the Russian revolution in 1917, new problems were faced by Sweden. Chief of these were the recognition of the new republic of Finland. The internal disturbances in that country which were strongly related to Sweden by national and political ties, were reflected in Sweden. It was finally decided, however, to maintain strict neu trality between the Soviet Government and Finland. Following the close of the war Sweden was greatly affected by the German revolution. Encouraged by its results the Independent Socialist Party made attempts for the abolishment of the monarchial form of government and the establishment of a republic. This agitation quickly subsided, however, on the promise of reforms by the govern ment. These included a new election law and the granting of the franchise to men and women on equal terms. In Feb ruary, 1918, a controversy arose between Sweden and Finland for the possession of the Aland Islands. These had been occupied by Germany after the collapse of Russia, and therefore their disposition remained in the hands of the Peace Con ference. Their population, which was purely Swedish, had appealed after the separation of Finland from Russia to the King of Sweden for annexation. The disposition of these islands had not been settled in 1921. In May, 1919, full na tional suffrage was granted to women, who since 1909 had enjoyed municipal suffrage. In March, 1920, a cabinet composed entirely of Socialists was se lected by Hjalmar Branting, prime min ister. This was probably the first in stance in political history when a Socialist cabinet was in power. The cabinet was accepted by the king.