Daily Kennebec journal., 1905-09-26
Agreement Of Old Friends,
Norway and Sweden,
As to Details Of Separation,
Are Satisfactory to All.
Warn Expressions Of Mutual Feeling Of
Relief at the Outcome.

Stockholm, Sept. 26.-Almost without
a dissenting voice the people of SWed-
en-, so far as can be judged by the Opin-
ions of the press here and elsewhere,
ACCEPT with satisfaction the terms of
the agreement between Sweden and
Norway reached at Karlstad. The gen.
oral opinion is voiced by the Social
Eemokraten, which, in its leading cdi-
torial, this morning, says:
Our principal objects, arbitration
and the demolition of the frontier for
tifications, having been attained, W
trust that ey erybody in both countries
will recognize that the two Scandinav-
ian peoples mutually need each other s
friendship and that the agreement VIII
bring more happiness to BOTH
In an interview witirThe Associated
Press. Christian LundDerg. the premier
who was one of the Swedish commits
sioners at Karlstad, said:
II am satisfied that the result OF the
conference will be satisfactory |"
Sweden as with certain modlhcatlols'
we gained almost everything asked pS
tire Riksdag. The result also ought I"
be satisfactory to Norway as she gam
ed the assurance of that INDEPENDENT
yosition which has been the goal OF al
the efforts Of the NOrwegE;nS. ire
concessions made by the Norwegian
delegates at Karlstad were necessary In
order to secure this result. Consider
irg every and in the il terestS OF peace,
It is to be hoped that the preliminary
treatey will be ratified by both parlia-
ments.
According to information received h"
The Associated Press the neutral zone
provided for in the agreement ircludes
:uarel varying from three to twelve
miles on each side of the frontier. On
the Norwegian sid" the zone runs from
the northwestern point of klrkoeh TO
the point where the Ilvan crosses the
C1st meridian. The coast zones meet
rather closely because of the possibility
of having to fOrtify against foreign
enemy. The arrangement with regard
to tn. fortresses, it is believed, will be
satisfactory 10 all parties.
EXPRESSIONS Of pleasure are heard
everywhere because both sides have
recognized the humanitarian principal
Of permitting the I-aplanders to enjoy
the privileges or pasturage for their
reindeer undisturbed. This is particu-
larly pleasing t. the Swedcs from a
sentimt ntal standpoint. as the rights
of tn" LaplanderS are looked upon as
time honored The settlement of th'
transit question establishes founda-
ton for peaceful intercourse between
the two countries.
The Associated Press has succeeded
in securing the text of the protocoi
signed at Karlstad, Saturday, by the
Norwegian Swedish delegates appoint
ed to arrange the terms of the dlsSolu :
tion of the union of Norway ana Swed-
en- subject to tie ratification or the
Riksdag and Storthing. The historic
document which will become treaty
when ratified by the two Parliaments
consists of five main articles and 81
sub clauses. The first article dca's
with arbitration, the second with the
reutral zone and the demolition OF the
fortifcations, the third with reif'deei
pastures, etc. etc, the fourth with in
ter-traffic and the fifth with common
waterways.
The agreement provides for the cont
pulsory arbitration before The Hagu'
court of all disputes except matters %
vital interest for the period of a de
Cade with extensions for other periods
of ten yeaIs unless two years previou
notice Is given of an intention L
abrogate 1t.
The treaty provides for n zone oI
either side of the frontier which shal
forever be neutral and for the demoli
tion Of the fortresses within that Zou'
with the exception Of the old portions
Cf the fortifications of F'redrikSten
Cyldenoeve and Ovorbjerget, wnicl
may remain. but are not to be used az
Notifications.
A headquarters staff and garrison
ray be maintained ut F'rediksten t'
the same extent as prior to the crectior
of the new furtification. No extension
of the KCngsvingcr group OF fortifica-
tions will be permitted. nor If the new
forts erected within ten kilometerS oi
the old fortress of Kongsvingcr.
Article l. relating to arbitration. is
sub-divided into eight clauses as fol
lows:
A-The two countries undertake tC
submit all matters OF dispute to The
Hague arbitration court which do not
affect the independence, integrity of
vital interests Of each other.
opinion between the two countries as
to whether a given question touches
the vital interest of one of them, the
matter shall he submitted to the arbi-
tration tribunal for decision.
C-Disputes III regard to the inter
pretation of the method of carrying
cut the agreement to he arrived at in
connection with the dissolution of the
union shall not. however, he submitted
to The Hague court.
d. T.. + and G--Providc for the con-
stitution Of the court i'm connection
with the rules of The Hague conven-
tion. the changes of documents and
who are qualified TO act as iirbitrators,
etc.
II This agreement is To remain in
force for a decade from the date of its
signature. 1t m;ly be extended for Il
similar further period, if it is not de-
nounccd by either party at least two
years before thdsexpiration of the term
of 10 years.