The news & observer., 1905-06-08
Norway an Independent
ard Sovereign State.
SHE SEEKS A KING
The Strothing Will, if Necessary De-
fend Its Action BY Force of Arms.
No III Feeling Entertained
Against King Oscar, OF Swed-
en-. Oscar Protests.
en-. Oscar Protests.
(By the Associated Press. }


Christiania, Norway, June 7.-King
Oscars refusal to sanction the bill
passed by the Storthing, providing for
a separate consular service for Nor
way, eliminated today in the passage
of a resolution by the Storthing de-
claring the dissolution of the union of
Sweden and Norway, and that the
King had ceased to act as King of
Norway.
An address to the King was adopted,
declaring that no i'll feeling was enter
tanned against him, his dynasty or the
Swedish nation, and asking him TO CO.
operate in the selection of a young
prince of the House of Bernadotte to
occupy the throne of Norway.
Norway from today is fully inde-
pendent and sovereign state"
This is the text of the editorials in
the Norwegian newspapers, and IT re-
fleets the spirit with which the people
of Norway accept today's action of the
Storthing when il proclaimed King
oscar no longer King of Norway.
At it's meeting this evening the
Storthing adopted proclamation TO
the Norwegian people, in which IS
given detailed account of the events
preceding the passing of the resolu-
ton, and in which the hope is eX-
pressed that they "Will succeed In
living in peace and on good terms with
all. and not the least with the Swedish
people, to whom we are linked by so
many natural ties
The proclamation concludes as fol-
lows:
"All officials, civil, military. must in
every respect yield that obedience
which the government has the right
to claim, according TO the authority
transferred to it by the Storthing in
the name of the people of Norway"
The proceedings throughout the
momentous session of the Storthing
today were marked by supreme good
order and by the utmost dignity. Ihe
plans had been most carefully pre-
pared and nothing had been omitted
to secure the Inauguration of a new
government under the best auspices.
That the feeling was intense was
evidenced by the great gatherings of
people outside the Storthing during
the early session, and after the an
nouncement of the result of the pro-
ceedings quiet respect was shown the
members as they left the building.
The crowds We're especially respect
full in their ovation to NJ Nicholson,
the retiring premier.
The Storthing will, If necessary, de-
fend the step taken today by force of
arms.
M Arctander will be Norway's first
foreign minister. He is now chief of
the departments of commerce, naviga-
tion and industry.
1t is learned that Crown Prince
Gustav will return from Berlin imme-
diately
1t is understood that an eXtraordi-
nary session of the Swedish Riksdag
will be called June 26, if not earlier,
as the result of today's action of the
Storthing.
The dissolution of the union between
Sweden and Norway has been pending
for some time, and had its growth in
the desier which grew stronger as
time passed for the establishment of
separate consular systems for the two
countries.
One of the causes for the desire in
Sweden and Norway for separate con-
sular systems was the fact that Sweden
is protectionist and Norway is for free
trade, and also because of Norway1
more extensive sea trade and other
Emergencies of commercial interests.