River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1905-09-28
SEPARATION IS
AGREED upon
NORWAY AND SWEDEN REACH
AN UNDERSTANDING.
BOTH MAKE CONCESSIONS
Protocol Signed and Conference Ended
War Is Averted - Short
History of the
Trouble.

KarlStad, Spain, Sept. Z5.-An agree
ment was reached Saturday morning
on the terms of the dissolution of the
union of Norway and Sweden. The
understanding was arrived at during
the final session of the delegates,
which lasted over three hours, and the
meeting adjourned until 1870 p. nj.
During the adjournment the secre-
taries were engaged in preparing a.
protocol for the signature of the rep
resentatives of the two countries.
Agreement Is Signed.
The full agreement was reached and
signed at 6:10 p. M, when the confer
ence terminated. The protocols will
be published next week at Christiania
and Stockholm simultaneously. !
The details of the agreement are not
generally known, but it is reported
that Norway comedies the Swedish
Laplanders the right to pasture rein
deer in Norway and in return Sweden
will not insist upon the destruction OF
the modern portions of the old fort
resses. New forts on the border are to
be dismantled. The government per-
mits the inference to be drawn that the
Norwegians abandoned their position
on almost every disputed point, owing
to the pressure of the powers. The sat
isfactory adjustment of the difficulty
gives general relief, as a dangerous
feeling had been growing that Norway
desired war.
Beginning of Trouble.
In May last the Norwegian parlia-
ment by an almost unanimous vote
passed a bill for consular service
independent of that of Sweden. This
bill was vetoed by King Oscar and in
consequence the Norwegian ministry
resigned.
The king refused to accept the res
ignation and then on June the par
lament in Christiania adopted res
olution declaring that the union of
Norway with Sweden under one king
was dissolved in consequence of the
kings having ceased to act as Nor
wegian king
Called It Revolutionary.
An address to King Oscar reciting
the step taken and the reasons there
for was also adopted, but the king
refused to receive it, declaring that
the action taken~was revolutionary.
The next move was on the part of
King Oscar, who summoned special
meeting of the Swedish riksdag to
consider the situation. This body au-
thorized the government to negotiate a
loan of $25,000,0 900 for works of de-
tense and declared the harbors OF
Stockholm, Karlskrona, GOthenburg and
Farosund to be war ports from which
all foreign naval vessels were to be
excluded.
Looked Like War for a Time.
For a time the outlook was warlike,
but the excitement gradually Gained
down and the riksdag finally adopted
resolutions agreeing to the dissolution
Of the union on certain conditions.
One of these was that the people of
Norway should take referendum vote
on the question of separation.
When the votes were counted it was
found that $4,000 were for separation
aud 1874 against it. Committees were
then appointed to consider the details
of the dissolution of the bon0s be-
tween the two countries. They met at
Karlstad, in Sweden, some weeks ago,
but they had great difficulty in arriv-
ing at the agreement.