The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-03-05
King Oscar Received Correspondent
American and English News.
FOREIGN MINISTER'S POSITION
HE TAKES RADICAL GROUND IN THE
INTERNAL CONTROVERSY.
Showed the Racial Differences Be-
tween the Peoples I'm Relation to
Pending Economic Questions.
Associated Press.

bled TO the Associated Press at the time, a
representative of the Associated Press was
recently accorded an audience by King
Oscar of Sweden and Norway. The follow
ing details of the interview are interesting:
Every Tuesday morning, whenever King
Oscar is at his capital. 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 and then only through the
medium of their respective ministers The
correspondent arrived at the royal palace
at 10 o'clock in the morning. Mounting
five flights of stairs, he entered an ante
chamber, where one noncommissioned Of
ficer from each of the regiments of Life
Guards stood at attention. Several lackeys
helped the correspondent to take off his
overcoat. He kept his hat, as 1t Is the
custom to carry 1T in the hand when adj
mitted to the presence of the King. In the
next room the correspondent was received
by the Kings adjutant. After short con-
versation he took the correspondent into
another room. grand saloon. one of the
most beautiful rooms in the palace. There
the adjutant 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 center of
the room, dressed in the uniform of gen.
eral of the Swedish army. His Majesty is
more than six feet TALL his face has an
expression of sympathy and intelligence.
From his sprightly movements you would
never dream that he is a man of seventy
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 conditions in America. Moth
ing happening there has escaped him. He
| spoke of the feud in Kentucky and about
| the educational institutions with the same
| knowledge of facts. He had regretted very
much to hear of the death of General Law
| ton in the Philippines. showed great in
| terest in what was taking place on the
| islands and asked many questions in re-
| gard TO the progress of the campaign.
FAVORABLE TO ENGLAND.
| Naturally the King was much concerned
| about the war in South Africa. 1t must be
remembered that Great Britain, though in
| no way an ally of Sweden and Norway, is
| the best guarantee for the independence Of
| the two northern countries. Great Brit
| aims world power once broken, 1t would
not be long before the two little nations
were swallowed up by their mighty neigh
| Dor in the east.
| From King Oscars conversation the cor
respondent believed his Majesty was in
favor of the British in South Africa. How
| ever he spoke in the highest terms of the
great strategic ability of the Beers, and
depressed a fervent wish that our own war
/ I'm the Philippines and the TranSyaal war
| wound soon be over. AS to the internal
| troubles of his two countries the King nat
i urally would not speak for publication
/ Toward the end of the audience the King
/ took the correspondent into his private
| writing room, selected splendid likeness
1 of himself, said ii was the best portrait
| of him and wrote his name across IL ana
| asked the correspondent 10 keep IL as
| memento of the audience. The King then
| sent through the Associated Press, the
| greeting to the Scandinavians in the United
| States which was contained In the capied
| dispatch.
| A few days later the correspondent was
1 received by the new minister of foreign al
| fairs Mr.. Lagerheim. AT the time, the cor
/ respondent cabled a short account Oh the
/ minister's opinion of the troubles between
| Sweden and Norway. The following addi-
| tional facts may be of interest. Mr.. Lager
/ helm said: Having been away from Swe-
| den for the last thirteen years, as amDaS-
sador to Germany, it is naturally dimcult
| for me to speak so soon after taking Of
fee the political dinerences petween
| Sweden and Norway. Until have visited
| Norway and closely studied its side OF the
| controversy I cannot express myself on the
| entire subject. 1 will say, however, that l
| think both countries might meet each other
| half way on many of their differences and
hrs w rrorrf concessions. away
| the bitter feeling that exists In some re-
| spects. You doubtless know that. In sew
eral instances, as, for example, TO the ma
| tionality of the minister or foreign aHalrs
| sweden has made concessions, but, l re-
| peat. all concessions must not come from
| one quarter.
RADICALLY DIFFERENT PEOPLES.
Now, there is, as you know, difference
in the character of the two peoples The
Swedes, being very old nation, are more
conservative and harder to change. The
| Norwegians. the contrary. are a young
people, as far as independence goes en-
| thusiastic and quick of action. Therefore
the Swedes are wont to take their time
| when there Is an important change to be
made. and Sweden has. perhaps. been
somewhat slow in granting certain con-
| cessions and when the time came around
| and they were granted, the Norwegians
had long ago given up that particular de-
| mand and substituted a more far-reachine
| one Thus, the concessions have always
been rejected by Norway. believe that the
| two nations stand much common
| ground that their interests are Identical
and that so many important questions de-
| mand our mutual and Immediate attention
| that there is wide field on which we may
| work together for our mutual benefit. while
| we allow our minds to rest from worrying
| over those impossible questions.
IT shall plainly state my irrevocable
! opinion as TO the Norwegian demand for a
| separate minister of foreign affairs and a
| separate representation abroad. Such q
| condition is impossible, beside being uncon.
| stitutional One Swedish minister of for
| eign affairs and one Norwegian and two
! sets of representatives abroad would be
| equal TO a dissolution of the union, and
| against such an end / shall work with al
| my might This question OF a common min
| lister of foreign affairs and a common rep
| resentation abroad is provided for in the
| act of union. Consequently, IL cannot be
| changed by the Norwegian Storthing alone
| and Sweden would never agree TO such ac-
| tion.
Mr. Lagerheim also said he was sure
| the two peoples was only on the surface
| came when IL would be necessary to make
| : common stand in defense of the Union
| he had no doubt that the world would FIND
| the Swedes and Norwegians united as one
l
Collision ON the ST. Paul Road.
| BAGLEY. H., March 4-Passenger trair