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PETER THE GREAT

APPENDIX D.

OFFICIAL DECLARATIONS OF NAVALPOLICY IN SWEDEN.

In Swedish official documents of old date will be foundcertain expressions of opinion as to the value of navaldefence, which bear an interesting resemblance, in the wayin which they were formulated, to an often-quoted passagein the English Act of Parliament containing the Articlesof War. In 1615 the Swedish Council of State, in com-plaining of the diminished naval strength of the kingdom,had used the expression : ‘ The fleet, on which the welfareof the whole kingdom seems to depend.’

The great statesman, Axel Oxenstjerna, who hadalways taken a special interest in the navy, addressed tothe Council a memorandum, in which he urged that ‘ thefleet, which is Sweden’s strength,’ should be put in athorough state of readiness.

The Introduction to the Articles of War of April 20,1644, declares that they were promulgated c for the defence,welfare, and security of the realm which, under God, dependon the country’s fleet, a well-organised Admiralty, andgood seamen.’

In 1766, after it had been decided to abandon Ehrens-vard’s plans, the official proposals for strengthening thenavy contained the statement that the fleet was ‘ thekingdom’s most certain rampart, bulwark, and defence.’