Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-05-28
King Oscars Ministry Ten
dered designations.
DEMURRED TO THE LAW
CREATING A SEPARATE consul
LAR SYSTEM FOR COUNTRY.
They Regarded the Measure as Iniu~
rious to Norway-History of the
Proposed Legislation.

CHRISTIANA. Norway MAY Hiking
Oscar, at a sitting of the council of min
listers. declined to sign the law creating a
separate consular system for Norway The
ministers immediately rendered their resig-
nations, but the king refused TO accep.
them.
In rendering their designations the min
listers declared they must ask for their i'm
mediate dismissal. as not one of them
would be able to sign the kings veto which
they regarded as Injurious to the country.
Such a rejection OF Norwegian law uuani-
mously passed by the storhing and unani-
mously demanded by the Norwegian people.
and which the cabinet ministers unani-
mously approved could not be Justified as
II not only did not accord with Norwegian
interests. but constituted an action on the
part OF the sovereign. which opposed
to the constitution OF Norway and to con-
stitutional practices.
King Oscars veto of the separate con-
sular law created a great sensation pos
sibly involving a dissolution OF the union
between Sweden and Norway, and perhaps
even international complications. though
best informed Norwegians decline to believe
that there is any danger OF a Russian in
vasion. contending that If Russia had de-
signs, which they do not believe she has.
she would not be deferred in pressing them
by having to fight both Sweden and Nor
way. and that. therefore, the question OF
a dissolution of the union will have no
effect from an international aspect
The Kings Decision.
The kings decision was given in the Nor
wegian council sitting at Stockholm today.
Each member of the cabinet individually
urged the king to sanction the consular
law When they had all spoken King
Oscar read a declaration indorsing the
declaration made by the crown prince on
April ; that the matter was solvabie only
by mutual negotiations. He added that lie
could not give his assent to the law. be-
cause the existing community OF interests
in the consular service could not be ABOLISH
ed without mutual consent.
The existing agreement, he SAID. was eS-
tablished by "A resolution by the mixed
council, and that his love for both peo-
pies impelled him to withhold his sane
ton.
The members of the cabinet urgently
protested that his majesty's declaration
was not only the rejection of pressing de-
mand by the whole OF the Norwegian pe"-
Pile but drawn up as it was In disregard
of the cabinets unanimous advice ana
without the advice of any Norwegian. IL
was a breach Of the constitution ana
violation of the constitutional rights. in
deDendence and sovereignty OF Norway,
and would mean dissolution OF the union
No member of the Norwegian government.
they said, could counterssn such decl-
sion without from that moment losing hs
fatherland.
King Oscars Reply.
The members of the cabinet having pre-
scented their designations. King Oscar read
his reply. declaring that he could not ac-
cept them, as 1t was clear that no other
cabinet could be found at the present time.
Minister'S however, declined to withdraw
their designations. They had beforehand
appealed to the king to defer action on the
matter until 1t could be dealt with in the
full council at Chrstiania, but the King
had announced his inability to acquiesce.
No protocol of the proceedings was drawn
up as the ministers all refused to counter
sign one and the kings veto of the law
therefore is constitutionally non-existent.
The Norwegian newspapers commenting
on the situation declare that the kings de-
cision shows that Norway no longer has
sovereign willing to follow the countries
advice but that this fact will draw the
Norwegian people yet closer together in
strength and unanimty. A great crowd
gathered at the government offices this att
ernoon for a demonstration IN honor OF
Premier Nicholson. The premier tried TO
avoid this by leaving the building by
back door, but the crowd discovered and
cheered him with increased enthusiasm.
Premier Nicholson has requested the Stu
dents Association to refrain from organiz-
ing popular procession.