The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-02-02
NOrmannaheinen
A RUM0R run DOWN
How Talk of Norwegian Move
ment Against SwedensWas
Given Birth.
Chance Remark of Colonel Is Re.
peated by a DETERMINATIONS
sular Tangle.

The Norwegian and Swedish press are
discussing freely the sensational but
seemingly ridiculous rumor that Norway
is modifying for an attack on Sweden.
The articles are interesting only as show
ing how trivial remark, thoughtlessly
made may by successive repetition be-
come a widespread sensation.
The Norwegian papers have worked in
dustriously in tracing the rumor back and
have finally placed the blame on First
Lieutenant Johannes Dahl. Lieutenant
Dahl when he was called upon to reveal
his source of authority gave the name OF
Lieutenant Colonel A. Sporck The colo
mel promptly ordered Lieutenant Dahl to
disclose publicly when, where and in what
words he Colonel Sporck) had informed
the lieutenant Of any preparations for
war. Lieutenant Dahl, who was i'll at
an infirmary, managed. however, to pre-
pare article in which he rectted in de-
tail the transactions of a meeting of the
storthng committee on military affairs,
of which Colonel Sporck was chairman,
Oct. q, 1902. Lieutenant Dahl was seek
ing to place on the budget a position
which had been abandoned on account of
shortage Of funds. Others interested in
the military budget withdrew leaving
Messrs. Sporck and Dahl together and
they continued the discussion. Finally
Colonel SporcE said:
No, there will soon be something else
doing, boys. You must soon prepare to
go to the frontier
. Lieutenant Dahl admits that he saw no
particular significance in the words. but
nevertheless he repeated them to others.
The colonel expresses surprise at Lieu
tenant Dahfs ineXplicable motives in CIV
ing circulation to a statement which
he himself did not take seriously. Then
he states positively that he had no recol-
lection of having made the statement at
tributed to him, and declares that If he
ever made it, 1t was simply in sport. The
fact that the incident occurred on Oct.
II before the joint consular commission
had actually begun work indicates that ii
is quite unlikely that he ever uttered the
words with serious intent. =.
The Norwegian storthing on Jan. 23 by
& vote Of 81 to 80 adopted the motion OF
President Berner, presented Jan. 81, tt
the effect that the storthing declares tina
in order to promote the interests of Nor.
way and assure the maintenance of the
good relations existing between the united
kingdoms it is desirable that separate con
sular systems be established Independent
of the diplomatic service and of the min
istry of foreign affairs"
This resolution seems to indicate tina
the Norwegians are becoming somewha
impatient over the long delay in dlspos1nt
of the consular question which has beer
live issue between Norway and SWedel
for fifteen years. Yet the resolution il
very moderate considering the fact tina
the Norwegians originally demanded TO
themselves independent diplomatic
service as we'll as a consular service. 1,
view Of many editorials and public utter
ances 1t is believed that the majority o
the Swedes will concede the demand ex
pressed in the Berner resolution.
Hr. Traedal, member of the Nor
~vcgian storthing, has been making threat
enng and incendiary talks, but is no
taken seriously by any one. The Who'll
Norwegian press ridicule every mention
of war rumors and deplore all attempts t
create another rupture between tn
Swedes and Norwegians..