The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1900-03-17
ID Far Northla7d
Tia-Bits Of News fer sca.aiHa-
vians.
INTERVIEW WITH KING OSCAR.

pnce with King Oscar of Sweden anu
Norway. The following details OF the
interview are interesting:
Every Tuesday morning whenever
King Oscar is at his capital city any
of his subjects may be received by him
with hardly any formality. Foreigners
Of course are only given an audience
If they are. previously summoned, n
then only through the medium OF their
respective ministers. The correspond
pnt arrived at the royal palace at ~
o'clock i'll the morning. Mounting v
fights of stairs, he entered an ante
chamber where n non-commissloned
officer from each of the regiments OF
life guards stood at attention. Sew
eral lackeys helped the correspondent
to take off his %overcoat. He kept MS
hat, as it is the custom to carry it il.
the hand when admitted to the pres
ence Of the king. In the next room
the correspondent was admitted by the
kings adjutant. After q short con-
v%ersation lie took the correspondent
into another room. Il grand salon. one
of the most beautiful and gorgeous
rooms in the palace. There the adlu-
tant introduced the correspondent to
the chamberlain, who thereupon went
into the kings private rooms. Return
ing in a minute, he told the visitor the
king was ready to receive him.
King Oscar was standing in the CEN
ter Of the room, dressed in the uni
form of a general of the Swedish army.
His majesty is more than six feet tai;
his face has an expression OF ,gooo
nature and intelligence. From his
sprightly movements you would never
lream he was a man of se~yenty-one
years. The king advanced a few steps
toward the correspondent. extended
his hand and babe him welcome to
Stockholm. His majesty was very
much interested in hearing about con
ditions in America. Nothing happen
ing there has escaped hill. He spoke
If the feud in Kentucky "!l about the
educational institutions With the same
knowledge of facts. He very much re
GREETED to hear of the death of Gen,
Lawton in the Philippines, showed a
place on the is!a;iis and asked many
questions in. regard to the progress OF
the campaign.
Naturally. the king was much n
cerned about the war in South Africa.
It must be remembered that Great
Britain, though in no way an ally OF
Sweden and Norway, is the best guar
antee for the independence of the two
northern countries. Great Britain's
world power once broken 1t would not
he long before the two little nations
were swallowed up by their mighty
neighb0r in the East.
From King Oscars conversation the
correspondent believed his majesty
was in favor of the British in South
Africa. However. he spoke in the
highest terms of the great sirategica'
bility of the Beers, and expressed a
fervent wish that II own war in the
Philippines and the Transvaal war
would soon be over.
AS. to the internal troubles of his
two countries, the king naturally
would not speak for publication. To-
ward the end of the audience the king
took the correspondent into his pri-
vate writing room, selected a splendid
likeness of himself, said it was the
best portrait of him, and wrote his
name across and asked the correspond
ent to keep it as a mementO of the au-
dience.
A few days later the correspondent
was received by the new minister OF
foreign affairs, Mr.. Lagerheim. At
the time the correspondent cabled q
short account of the minister's opinion
Of the troubles between Sweden and
Norway. The following additional fact
may be of interest. Mr.. Lagerheim.
who was delighted at being offered by
the Associated Press an opportunity
of giving his views, said:
Having been away from Sweden for
the last thirteen years as ambassador
to Germany. it is naturally difficult
for me to speak so soon after taking
office on the political, differences be-
tween Sweden and Norway. Until I
have visited Norway and closely
studied it's side Of the controversy, l
cannot express myself on the entire
subject. I will say, however, that I
think both countries might meet each
other halfway on many of their differ
ences and thus by mutual concessions
take away the bitter feelings that ex.
list in some respects. You dOubtlessly
know that in several instances, as fol
example, as to the nationality Of min
lister Of foreign. affairs, Sweden has
made some concessions, but l repeat
that all concessions must not come
from one quarter. Now, there Is, as
you know, a difference in the character
Of the two peoples. The Swedes, being
a very old nation, are more conserva.
tive and harder to change. The Nor
wegians, on the contrary, IRE a young
people, as far az independence goes,
enthusiastic and quick Of action.
Therefore the SwedeAare wont to take
their time when there is an important
change to be made. and Sweden has
perhaps been slow in granting certain
concessions, and when the time came
around and they. were granted the.
Norwegians had long ago given ur
that particular demand and substi-
tuted a more far-reaching one. Thus
the concessions have always been. re.
jected by Norway. I believe the two
nations stand upon SO much common
ground that their interests are identi-
|cal, and that SO many important ques-
lions demand our mutual and imme-
liate attention that there is q wide
field upon which we may work to-
gether for u mutual benefit, while
we allow our minds to rest from
worrying over those impossible ques-
lions.
II shall plainly state my unequivocal
opinion on Norwegian demands for u
separate minister Of foreign affairs.
Such 4 position is impossible, besides
being unconstitutional One Swedish
minister Of foreign affairs ana one
Norwegian md two sets OF representa-
tiyes abrCnd would be equal to: a dis
so~lut!Ons0f. the union, and against such
ansendI shall work with all my might.