The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1898-02-05
VAGUE TALK OF WAR.
Sweden and Norway Do Not Get
Along as Well as They
Might.

Chicago. H., Feb. 1.-Rumors Of
threatening war hctwetn Norway and
Sweden are causing excitement among the
Chicago colony Of Norsemen. Published
accounts of preparations BY Norway 10
ward off ami attack from Sweden have
found many believers. Tnc more conser-
yatiye element among both the SWedes
and Norwegians. however, are inclined to
make light of the rumors.
In today's issue of Svcnska Kurir"n
Alexander ]. Johnson. publisher OF that
paper and one of the leading members OF
the Swedish colony. writes an editorial IN
reply to the war notes from abroad re
garding his native country.
Mr.. Johnson says: In order 10 en-
tighten the American public upon the
present controversy it would be idle to
go into details that can hardly be grasped
by people not familiar with the history
| of the Scandinavian countries. Rut the
situation is 4 good deal less complicated
than certain NorwegianS like TO make 1t
appears. for some sinister purposes of
their own.
In 1911 Sweden and Norway were
united under the same king. A contract
| called the forcnigSaktcn' was passed, eS-
| tabllshing the modus viyendi between the
| two countries and their mutual king.
tract has been i'll existence several
changes have been made. all of them for
| the sole purpose of Suiting the NOrWc-
| glans. Every one of the four kings
! since Charles NIII. has made some con-
cessIOns to please the Norwegian people.
| whereas no such change by which Swe-
/ den could have been benefited has ever
AS the French say: L'appctit vi,nt
en- mangcant;' the more concessions the
! NorWeglanS got the more they wanted.
| SWedes seem to be willing to conccdc
/ that the secretary of state for foreign af-
/ fairs shall be either Il Norwegian or Il
! SWcde but they ask certain guarantees
/ for the rights they are going to diyest
! themselves. ON the other hand. the Swe-
! dish kkS,iag will never grant such Il
/ change III the fundamental act as to NAL Ike
| Il separate diplomatic and consular SGrv-
Ice tor each country. which would be
nothing less than practically diSsolving
! the union. How would ii look to Il Nor
! weGian-Am"rican if each state of our
! America had its separate representative
III foreign countries: There is 10 differ
ence between such a proposition and the
claim the 'venstern' i'll Norway now is
| putting forth
"According to the correspondent of one
| OF the local newspapers the feeling in
! Norway against the Swedish people has
! come To Il point where a writer in 4
| thrlstIania paper openly advocates that
/ the Storthing ought To offer Il premium of
/ 900 crowns for cacu Swedish soldier that
| was captured or shot in case of a Swedish
! attack on Norway. We will leave Tho
odium of using such language To the an.
! thor thereof and to the other fellow whc
has seen tit to applaud !. Suffice it to say
that a Swedish attack on Norway j.
! an lmnoSShility, from the mere fact
that the King of Sweden. hrln5
also the King of Norway. cannot mak1
war upon himself. The only pos$hI,
complication to fear would he that til,
| Norwegian Storthing might tranSgrcss ts
! authority and break the existing contract
! with Sweden and the King of Sweden auG
| Norway. This would he nothing les.
than revolution, and i'll such case tn,
King would DO nothing else than cali botI
/ his Norwegian and Swedish army to sup
press the rebellion. No sophistry coult
successfully call such an event a Swedish
I attack upon the army.
/ Paul Stcnsland. president of the Nil
/ waukee Avenue State bank. II conSorya-
tive Norwegian. tells what he knows OF
the alleged crisis in Norway and Sweden
1T is true" said he. that Norway is
mere democratic than Sweden. In 1H2l
! Norway decided to abolish all titled nohil.
lty and the action caused some difficulty
/ with Sweden. which was opposed to The
measure All this talk of war is non
sense and is not at all credited by Oui
people
$50 far as the issue on consular service
/ is concerned. | would say that the repr"
! spntation of conSuls on the service is fully
/ as much if not more Norwegian thar
| Swedish. There are also Il number OF
NOrWegians among the ministers. ncSpit.
the difference in sentiment between the
Norwcgians and Swedish. there is no like
lih0od that Norway will attempt to cut
! loose entirely from King Oscar. and form
a republic of its own. There iS no grounc
for such belief. Th" two countries ar,
very peaceful and they are also bound 10y
traditional and home ties"