New-York tribune., 1905-08-12

Sweden,
five maps. BY R. Nsbet Balm. 12mo. PIP. x
460 The Macmillan Company.
MIR. Bain's contribution to the Cambridge
Historical Series" is issued at moment when
his comprehensive survey of the interrelated
histories Of the three northern countries of Eu-
rope is particularly welcome. in a compass not
too extended for the needs of the busy student
of affairs he has outlined, without sacrifice OF
their picturesque and dramatic features. the
events, covering a period of nearly four hun
dred years leading up to the present political
crisis on the Scandinavian peninsula. Taxing
I'D the thread Of his narrative where it breaks
off in his volume in the European dispatches TO
the newspapers, one is able clearly to see how
the severance of the too tenuous tie between
Sweden and Norway is but the logical outcome
of the illogical relations that have mainly sub
sisted between all three of the Scandinavian
Kingdoms in modern times The first sentence
in the volume furnishes key not only to the
present situation, but to the illuminative manner
in which the author has treated his subject
throughout 1.-THE political history of Scandi-
navia," he says, 'is the history or the frustra-
tion of great Baltic empire. and ne then pro-
ceeds to show how the three countries, despite
their tendency, through propnquity, through
community of interests and through racial char
acteristics to combine in the closest kind OF
hegemony have been kept apart by forces,
which he proceeds to consider, until these have
converted a naturally centripetal into an his
torically centrifugal motion.
The personal rivalries and jealousies or
series of notable rulers and statemakers were
resnonsible for the disintegration of United
Scandinavia, beginning with the Stockholm
Massacre of 1920 and continued in eleven fierce
wars between Denmark and Sweden, during
nearly three hundred years. Despite the con-
slant drain on the inconsiderable resources OF
both countries. each in turn attained the rank
Of a great power; in the case of Sweden only
to be destroyed "by the banded might of Eastern
and Central Europe after a twenty years
struggle" Thus these materially unimportant
kingdoms came to exercise an influence vastly
disproportionate TO their size and wealth upon
the political history OF Europe, through the con-
structive genius of a succession Of exception
ally great men, master magcians Of statecraft,
whose individual abilities served. II not actu-
allv to overcome at least effectively to suspend
for time the operation of natural laws. The
consideration Of these forces, personal as well as
national. is full of dramatic interest. in which
admiration for individual achievement is set OF
against regret that much effort should have
come to naught. But natural laws cannot be
defied forever, and whatever Sweden. Denmark
and Norway might have accomplished, If work
ing with a united purpose. was eventually lost
to them through the necessity they were under
of seeking costly outside assistance to main
tain their autonomous relations against an
other
So far as Norway is concerned, her autonomy
has been indeed, but a nominal one, and she
has been ever forced TO accept her King the
| ruler Of one or other of her more powerful
| neighbors For more than three hundred years
her political affiliations were with Denmark,
with whom she had definitely thrown in her lot
as early as the middle Of the fifteenth century.
/ Among those maritime nations the narrow
| channel Of the Skager Rack was regarded as
! less Of a geological boundary than the
| mountain barrier that forms the backbone OF
! the Scandinavian Peninsula. Through all the
period OF storm and stress consequently. Nor
ways close association with Denmark through
! common monarch had strengthened her an
| tagonism to Sweden, to whom she found her
self suddenly and uaceremoniousIy turned over
| by the Treaty 0. Stockholm (NfHrch 3. 1879.
Holding that ~ their :aw.u. monarch, King
Frederick had released :herl from G:eir allie
! glance they had an :nsl.els;re rl-iIt to dispose
of their own destinies" TIE N,rwss7aEs ignored
the proclamation Of Berna6ctte who had lately
been chosen Crown Prince Of Sweden. promising
them constitution and the privilege of self
taxation. and rose in defence of their indepen-
dence. 1t did not take long, however for the
former French marshal to gain from the Nor
wegians themselves the crown that had already
been transferred to him without their consent
The constitution adopted and accepted declared
the country to be a free and independent king
dom. united to Sweden under common King.
1t was in its terms as liberal as could be de-
sired and reconciled the people to an alliance
which they had neither sought nor desired. The
parliament, or Storthing. elective. and had
even the power of overriding the royal veto, the
passage of the same resolution by three sue
cessive Storthings being sufficient to estab blsh
ii a law without the Kings sanction.
Under such conditions 1t as II the union
might have been continued indefinitely with mu-
tual advantages Causes Of friction have con-
stanty arisen. however, through what the Nor
wegians claim TO be the persistent efforts OF
Sweden 10 encroach on their national preroga-
tives. The most fertile source OF grievance has
been that afforded by those provisions of the
Act OF Union which place the foreign relations
of both countries in the hands of single For
eign Minister who has always been a Swede
! The fact that the merchant marine of Norway
is several times larger than that of Sweden, and
ths., the former is practically free trade coun-
/ try, while the latter is strongly prote .tionst
gave rise to a demand the part of Norway for
/ a separate consular service Mr. Balm in mis-
discussion of the situation. hardly takes an nm
| partial view Of It. Thus. he says on page $50:
There IS something to be said no doubt for the
contention of Norway that her relatively enormous
suiar Service but this in itself Apparently
/ able claim was only the prelude TO a further de-
could not allow Norway negotiate independeTtly tly
with foreign powers at The risk Of impering the
possibility such contingency Is deliberately tr
/ shut ones eyes 70 plain facts The reasonable