New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-03-29
Discomfort IN NORWAY.
A STRONG PARTY ANXIOUS TO SEVER THE
UNION WITH SWEDEN.
THE CONSERVATIVE MINISTRY OVERTHROW
AND LIBERAL MINISTRY FORMED TO
ASSERT NORWEGIAN HOME RULE
IN FOREIGN AFFAIRS.

ASSERT NORWEGIAN HOME RULE
IN FOREIGN AFFAIRS.
Christiania, March G.
Comparatively little attention is paid by tho
rest of the world to the events in the far-away
Land of the Midnight Sun" And yet the
political drama which has been played in Norway
since the union with Sweden in 1914 is full Of
interest and instruction to students of govern
mental institutions In recent years Norwegian
statesmen have often made the boast that the next
European Republic would celebrate its birth at
Christiania Since the fall of the Ministry Of
Herr Stang, few days ago. that boast has been
heard, undoubtedly with reason, from many
tongues, and the belief seems to be general that
the requiem over the last Conservative Ministry
has been sung.
When Herr Stang was called TO form cabinet
to succeed II. Sverdrup in 1859 there was great
jubilation in the ranks of the Norwegian Conserva-
tives and in Sweden. brilliant and long-con-
tnued career was prophesied for the new leaders
The hopes of the Kings friends, however, have
been unfulfed and the deluded Cabinet has been
Obliged 10 Weld to the demands of the times The
snecch from the throne at the opening of the
Storthing a few weeks ago was received without
enthusiasm by the Radicals and a number OF the
Moderates The reason lay in its treatment OF
the foreign relations of the United Kingdom,
which are virtually controlled by Sweden The
debate on the speech began in the last days OK
February. The agitation among the Nationalist
mr. Radicals for a separate Ministry OF Foreign
Affairs for Norway, although desire OF many
vcors' standing, has become more pronounced OF
late than ever before The royal speech, for Vari-
ous reasons tended to increase The intensity OK
that desire In a caucus held prior to the open
inc Of the debate the Radicals determined 70 IN
troduce a resolution demanding an independeh'
Ministry of Foreign Affairs for their native couh-
try. On February % the members oil the otor-
>thing numbering ia were all III theif sedts' Inc
full attendance of the Deputies and the weil-iiieu
galleries indicated the probability OF session VI
unusual interest and Importance
True IN their plan, the Radicals moved the
adoption of constitutional amendment assuring
Norway of an equality with Sweden IN lhe con-
troll of the foreign relations OF the Union IL
vain Herr Stang tried to stem the tide anu ~
show that the adoption of such resolution wouiA
no tantam0unt to the dissolution of the Union
No shin. he said coud be steered by two pIlo's VI
eouol rank. His figure naturally failed TO In
euence men whose ultimate hope is the severance
If n connection which has been dlstasteiui 10 81
many of their countrymen. Inc resoiuton wa.
forced to vote and was carried by haJoiiS u
four. only ffty-hve members uphohlhg the 'ie
OF Herr Stang. In view OF this maJornS' 'n"A'
"a il was, Herr Stang was obliged 10 resieu'
KING Oscar. too was forced to consider the
will of the Storthing final. lie endeaVoreu " oIe
over the crisis by opening negotiations WIN H. -
Berner president of the Odelstuhs, i"S' S'"'
Herr Berner, however. declined 70 accept t,e le
sponsibility Of forming CABINET, uesPi'e .ne
noo,od attempts of the King to persuade him TO
do so and the desire of many oil the Mooel"'''
that no should he at the head of the future
Government He refused peremptorily and de-
clared that Johannes Wilhelm Christian Steen was
the only man capaOle OF iornius :" '''
the existing conditions.
tIrr Steen for almost decade has been IN
d,sfovor with King Oscar. So much pressure.
bowever was brought to bear that he was oonged
20 mako terms with his arch enemy WORD was
sent 70 Herr Steen who, after his failure TO re-
turn to the Storthng in 1890, had retired 10 'ne
Gymnasium # Stavangen. of which he Is director
After a Journey of three days and TWO hgh's TIC
orrived in Christiana on March /, and in the same
dav had an audience with the King. AS iesuiO
tho names Of the new Ministry have been made
nrblic Several of the new Cabinet officers, who,
like Steen. mad been dropped from the roll OF 'ne
Storthinc had to he summoned from distance
Without exception, however, they have been re-
ceiyed with approval, and they enter upon 'her
work under suspicious CIRCUMSTANCES pelneli ' -,
Kings first choice as Premier, has consented 10
ACT MS Minister resident in Stockholm lihc nps
chief he too IS schoOlmaSter, oeihg ulT d.,
of the School of Technology N herseh' ~ me-,
mester Hoist is Minister OF war ana Mn nrlhe
H. Nvson an engineer. is Minister OF Public
Works Herr Engelhart, Minister Of Finance lierr
Know. Minister of the Interior; Judge oVanl, tle
author of the laws governing the new Jury sSstei,
Minister Of Justice and Herr Blehr and Herr
LANCE members of Council in Stockholm.
The career of the new chief has been cen COMPARE ara
lively uneventful lie was born in 1927 and was
first elected TO the Storthing In 1899 since Tue
wear 1867 he has been rector OF the C0HeSe ol
Stavangen which city he also represented III al,
Of a few short intervals. Originally member
of the Moderate party, he atterward lon99 'ie
Left or Radical party, under the leadership 1i
Sverdrup. The faction at that time was cnigny
comnosed of peasant representatives, ana Herr
Stccn soon gained great influence IN the party
councils AZ various times in his political career
he has leaned slightly toward the kgn'' ana ior
between the King and the extreme Leu.
That however, was made impossible ny
his successful opposition to the eAerc rs.
of the power of veto until recently held by the
throne lie fell into disfavor at Stockholm ana
returned unrescryedy to the ranks OF me
Radicals who welcomed him with open arms
When Sverdrup formed Liberal Ministry few
wears ago, Steen was asked to accept portfolio
The King however, who had not forgiven Steeh,
opposed his nomination So SfonS tat s Talt
made by the King did not tend 10 reconcile Steen
10 the existing order of things; nor will II tend 70
lessen the demands. that he has returned TO
power. which he will make upon the ruler OF
Sweden and Norway. s.,
As already stated, the opposition which resulted
in the downfall Of the Stang Ministry and the
semi revolutionary demand for a separate Ministry
If Foreign Affairs is not the result of day. IL
has manifested itself since the birth Of the Union
in 1914 After Bernadotte had been proclaimed
Crown Prince of Sweden he was instrumental IN
securing the ccssion of Norway by Denmark TO
his new fathcrand. The Norwegians. however.
objected TO the orcible divorce from their better
half SO TO speak and chose Prince Christian, The
Danish Statshalter. 10 be their King. AS is well
known they were defeated in the struggle which
followed and were forced 10 accept King Christian
XIII as their sovereign. They have never been
entirely contented. however. In the personal