The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1905-06-22
SPEECH FROM sWEDIsH THRONE
DENIES PROVOKING STEPS
TAKEN BY NORWAY.
10 AVOID A STILL WORSE EVIL
MONARCH WILLING TO AGREE TO
A PEACEFUL DISSOLUTION
OF THE UNION.

Stockholm. Sweden, June 22IThe
extraordinary session of the riksdag,
summoned by King Oscar to deal with
the momentous question raised by
Norway's declaration dissolying the
union, met for business during the
day. The government Immediately in
troduced a bill asking for authorize
.tion to enter into negotiations with the
Norwegian storthing and draw UP a
conditional settlement of the questions
involved in the separation of the here
tofore dual kingdom.
The session was opened by King Os
car in person with the usual ceremony.
The king made a speech from the
throne in which he protested against
the charge that by violation of the
constitution he had provoked the steps
taken by Norway.
In the council of state, which sane.
toned the introduction of the bill in
the riksdag dealing with the sdissolu-
ton crisis, both the king and the pre-
mier were on the side of a pacific So
luton.
Premier Ran1stedt spoke first, point
ing out that was not to sSWeden's
interest to resort to coerciye meas
ures. lie recommended, therefore, en-
tering into negotiations for a conven-
ton by which guarantees should be
30; t<>f ,t1,o
fare of the two countries In any case
he declared negotiations were indis-
pensable to definitely clear UP the sit
uation. The premier suggested that
delegates be appointed to this end, as
1t was only after such a conditional
settlement and after the riksdag had
fully considered the matter that SWe-
den would be in a position to decide
as to her definite approval of the dis.
solution and agree to annulling the
act of union
Speaks With Visible Emotion.
After several members had ac-
quiesced in the premier's views King
Oscar, with visible emotion, spoke as
follows:
aIt Is painful step which the coun-
Gil of state calls on me to take. Ny
conscience tells me that have during
my long reign always striven toward
the object had in mind at the time
of my accession, namely, the welfare
of the brother peoples. 1t is truly
painful to me to contribute to the dis
solution of a union in which / thought
I saw the independence, security and
happiness OF the united kingdoms. If,
however, i am ready to act thus it is
in order to avoid a still worse evil and
in the conviction that the union with
out mutual accord would bring no real
advantage to Sweden.
& have acted in accordance with my
conscience and always in conformity
with the constitution and with the de.
sire to work conscientiously for the
true welfare of the two peoples. The
bill presented to the riksdag does not
aim at replying to injustice by acts
of coercion. The union is not worth
the sacrifice which acts of coercion
would entail A union into which Nor.
way would be forced in such a manner
would be of little value to Sweden -
The king concluded with expressing
the hope that the Swedish people
would be guided by calmness and pru.
dence and that God would give them
strength and unity to regain within
their own frontiers what they had lost
by the dissolution of the union.