Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-06-07
A Long-continued Struggle.

way to Sweden, there has been more or less
contention between the two countries for
severance.
Matters, however did not reach an acute
stage until the early part of 1893. when the
storthing of Norway declared in favor of
separate Norwegian consulates. King Os-
car refused his sanction TO :he arrange
ment, and the liberal cabinet immediately
resigned. Later, upon promises that the
subject would be adjourned for further con-
sideration. the cabinet was persuaded 10
resume Office. 1t was deemed to be the
opening wedge for final dissolution of the
Scandinavian union. and there immedi-
ately sprung into existence two parties, the
liberals and the radicals. The former OPP
posed disruption and the latter cldmofed
for 1t.
Among the first measures considered by
the storthng of 1898 was the proposition
increasing the effectiveness OF the Swedish
army. The Norwegians interpreted this to
mean a menace to their independence. At
this time the Stockholm government showed
a tendency toward an alliance with Russia
and France.
The debates in the storthing ended March
L. 1893, in a definite rejection of the COM
promise offered by King Oscar. which was
in effect that the foreign minister of the
union should be alternately a Sweds and
Norwegian. with Norway having fair
representation In the diplomats and con
sular service.
The storthing pa ced itself on record after
a rejection of the compromise by passing
a resolution giving to Norway the right to
a separate and distinct diplomatic and con-
sular establishment, as well as a complete
autonomy in all matters not described IN
the act of union as pertaining to the union
The situation rapidly assumed threatening
proportions and open revolt was talked.
The king refused to give his sanction to
the resolution above noted. and the Nor
wegian ministry forthwith resigned and
new one Immediately formed under the
conservative leader Stang. This ministry,
however. was censured by vote of the
tnrtI and ha nf6 min
plimented by a vote of confidence.
This action placed the king in the pecu-
liar position of having only a minority In
the storthing and not being in a position
to accede to the wishes of the majority
without offending the Swedish parliament,
which had but recently passed by an over
whelming vote resolution declining to
permit the establishment of a separate
consular service by Norway.
1t was suggested at this time. in view OF
the complex condition of affairs. to refer
the whole matter to commission to be
named by the presidents of the United
States. France and Switzerland. and by the
German emperor and Queen of England
Commission Appointed.
This suggestion, however. although not
being adopted took another form. and in
1925 a commission was appointed by the
king to take up and consider the subject
with the object of solving it. Its conclu-
sons however, were not satisfactory and
did nothing toward the solution OF the
trouble Yet there prevailed more of a
spirit OF concession on each side and rup-
ture was averted.
The attempt of the radicals to eliminate
from the Norwegian flag the emblem OF
the union OF Sweden and Norway Is an
other incident Of the temper of the people
at that time.
The interests of Europe in the Scandal
navian peninsula brought to these internal
troubles the attention of teh pewers. Teh
STRENGTHENING of the Swedish government
at Stockholm, where German interests pre-
ponderate, was subject of anxiety to the
triple alliance; while Russian and French
interests favored ten dissolution of the I'M
on and the establishment of a separate gov
eminent at Chrstiania which might be
prepared to assist France and Russia In
preventing Sweden or Germany from closing
the entrance to the Baltic. thereby shutting
off access to the Russian seaportS In the
north
The election of 1894 brought many sur
prises The liberals were forced to ally
themselves with a socialistic movement IN
order to control the situation AS re-
suit they lost many seats in the storthing,
especially in the rural district, where the
farmers showed their disgust at the aln-
ance by voting with the conservatives.
Crown Prince Insulted.
Owing to i'll health on the part of King
Oscar the government was Professionally
turned over to the Prince Gustavus Adolf
plus in 1899. His early antagonism of the
severance idea and his public utterances
advising military coercion in Norway made
him very unpopular and on a visit to Chris
tiania in March he was pelted with snow
balls by mob. He was further insulted by
about sixty members of the storthing, who
refused his invitation to dinner
The situation cleared somewhat In the
latter part of 1899, when King Oscar gave
his sanction to the resolution passed by the
Norwegian storthing abolishing the emblem
of union in the Norwegian national nag.
This was regarded as the most significant
and important step Norway had yet taken
toward a final severance of the bonds which
united her with Sweden
Resources of the Countries.
The area OF Sweden is 172.S76 square
miles populated by 522l .291 people, who
adhere to the Lutheran Protestant Church.
The principal city and capital is Stockholm,
which has a population of BLOB. The
revenues of Sweden last year We're III .22o,
900 kroner. She has an army approximate
ing 3. 0G0 men and navy of thirteen ships.
which are designed coast defense vessels.
with the exception of the Fylgia. launched
last year. which is d seagoing vessel. The
chief Qualifications of Sweden the
coast-karlskrona kungsholmen, Vastra
Hastholmen, Stockholm, Vasholm- Oscar
Fredriksborg and Goteborg. In the inte
rior is karlsborg near Lake Waiter.
Norway has an area of 124. 1870 square
miles and according 10 the census of De-
cember. 1900 the population was 2,240.032.
The principal city IS kristiaaia, generally
written Christiana with a population of
22T, 626. Her revenue last year was 1000,
600 kroner. She has a standing army APP
proXimating 10000 and a navy like Swe-
den maintained FOR coast defense only The
most important fortresses of Norway are
Oscarsburg and the new fortresses Agdenes
Bergen Tonsberg. Christianssand and Fred
eriksten.
Government of Norway
BY the treaty of KILL in 1914, Norway
was coded to the King OF Sweden by the
King of Denmark, but the Norwegian peo-
pie did not recognize their ees5ion and de-
clared themselves Independent. A consti-
tutional assembly met and adopted con-
stitution. and elected the Danish prince,
Christian Frederick. King Of Norway. The
Swedish troops entered Norway the king
was deposed and Norway was united 10
Sweden. but its independence was solemnly
proclaimed. An extraordinary storthing
was convoked. and King Carl XIII was
elected King of Norway. The legislative
power OF Norway is vested in the storthing
or great court. The king posSeSSes fha