Monday, Jan. 14, 1935

Happy Lands

Three lucky as well as able Kings are the monarchs of Scandinavia. Their realms, among the world's most advanced democracies, loomed last week as leaders in the march out of Depression.

Norway's morose Haakon VII could thank his stars that in 1934 his Kingdom enjoyed the largest export business since the War, nearly double the volume for 1933. Down in Copenhagen hard-jawed Christian X felt safer because Danish workmen, mostly ardent Socialists, are now only 18% enrolled upon the dole, a magnificent drop from the 43% of 1932.

In Stockholm fastidious King Gustaf V, who hates and fears the Bolsheviks across the Baltic, could rejoice at all sorts of prosperous indexes as he snapped on his sapphire cuff links, his dainty wrist watch and his gold snake bracelet. Stockholm editors now speak of Depression as something definitely passed. Registered unemployment is down from the peak of 187,000 at this time last year to 53,000. Taking 100 as the measure of Swedish production in 1929, it is up from 79 during 1932 to 101 today. Typical of pleasant surprises, to which Swedes are now growing accustomed, is the latest report of the State Railways. They were expected to earn 12,000,000 kroner during the fiscal year which began last July, actually cleaned up 15,000,000 kronor in the first four months.

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