Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-03-30
In the faravay home of the hardy Norsemen

In the faravay home of the hardy Norsemen,
successors Of the vikings who once ruled the
seas. . struggle is in progress which attracts
much less Of American attention than should be
given it, With all the logic and common sense
in its favor Norway is struggling nobly for in
dependence in foreign affairs. Home rule il
has to the fullest extent, but beyond its own
borders its affairs completely controlled by
the power Of Sweden. The condition Of affairs
IL peculiar. According to the constitution Of
the country, formally recognized by the king Of
the bifurcated kingdom and the parliament Of
Sweden in 1914, Norway is in partnership with
Sweden for no other purposes than the main
tenance Of the royal family and to defend each
other in case Of war with another power That
same constitution plainly provides that Norway
shall have its own representatives abroad
Norwegian citizens-and ia empowered to
negotiate and conclude treaties with any or all
nations. But these privileges have never been
exercised. and for two reasons: First, because
Norway was not, in 1914. strong enough to assert
itself against the controlling Swede, and, sec
ond. because in these latter days the powerful
but peacefully inclined Norwegians have hest
tated to assert themselves. As a consequence
every diplomatic and consular position is filed
exclusively by Svedes, and it is to upset this
inequitable condition Of affairs that Norwegian
energy is now being applied. There does not
seem to be any good reason why Norway should
continue TO be subordinate to Sweden. The
Norwegian merchant marine is three times
greater than that Of its sister country; is, in
fact, second only to that Of Great Britain;
Norway il wideawake. democratic, progressive,
Sweden il an aristocrscy: Norway believes in
free trade. Sweden is protectionist in its in
dustrial beliefs, and yet Sweden insists on main
tanning its unconstitutional control Of the
diplomatic and consular service. That such
control IL Of tremendous mercantile advantage
to Sweden must be evident Competitors in
the markets Of the world and with economic
ideas that will not accord, the commercial pol
icy 10 controlled by Sweden although its COM
msrce is far inferior in bulk. That matters
have remained in this shape for so long is some
thing not easily to be understood. Norway
now demands the appointment of minister of
foreign affairs who shall be responsible only to
the Norwegian parliament and in whom shall
be vested all power to appoint consular repre-
sentatives. This reasonable request must surely
be granted Bjornstierne Bjornson says that
either must all Swedish influence be made i'm
possible by Norway becoming independent in
its foreign affairs it is in its domestic admin
istrstion or the joint kingdom must cease and
only the defensive alliance remain. The Nor
wegian parliament, a few days since, has as
serted its right to the principles explained
herein and crisis is imminent A similar
movement, made last year, was ignored by
King Oscar, but the Norwegians are going to
insist on being heard. Norway" says Born
son. has displayed to Europe mental capacity
of the highest order. Her administration and
institutions have in many ways become
model. What moral right has the Swede or any
other nation to be her GUARDIAN