New-York tribune., 1905-07-16
THE scANpINAr1AN coNTRoTERsY.

The energetic and versatile German Emperor.
having vindicated his claim to be consulted in
the regulation of Moroccan affairs. now turns
his attention to Scandinavia. He has from the
first for obvious reasons manifested sympa-
thy with Sweden in the controversy which has
politically rent the peninsula asunder and he
now does so in a still more marked degree by
visiting the King of Sweden and arranging
for a display of the German navy in Swedish
waters. The rumors of an impending alliance
between Germany and Sweden may or may not
be well founded. They do not seem unreason-
able, certainly not impossible, though they seem
to be repudated at Berlin. But that the EN-
perOr will intervene with force to undo the
secession of Norway, or will persuade Sweden
to attempt such an undertaking, is scarcely to
be expected. William IL is too sincerely de-
voted to the maintenance of European peace
and has too keen a realization of the mischief
that might be wrought by a clash between Nor
way and Sweden to provoke q conflict in the
north, unless for some weightier cause than Is
now apparent. He will probably be friend,
and perhaps n protector to Sweden. But If
Sweden acQuiesces in the secession of Norway
we cannot expect him to offer an objection,
The world may, therefore, hope to see the
scandinavian controversy decorOusly conducted
to a peaceful close 1t is true that there are
rumors of military mObilizations in both coun-
tries, but they seem to be made only to be
denied. There is doubtless a strong party in
Sweden inclined toward a demonstration
with army and navy 1t is, however, not in
control of the government and there is no
indication that its policy is to be adopted.
Moreover If such demonstration were made,
It's object would be merely to exert an infu-
ence on the settlement OF the details Of sepa-
ration, and not to cOerce Norway into reSump-
ton and continuance Of the union. It seems
safe to say that without long delay, all par
ties in the Swedish government will come TO
agree that the dissolution of the union must
be recognized and accepted as an accomplished
fact; that further controversy will be over the
arrangement of details of separation, and that
1t will he conducted in the temperate and
dignifed manner that has characterized it from
the beginning.
Seldom, indeed, has any comparable interna-
tional controversy been so we'll conducted as
this one. The pronunciamento of the Nor
wegian Parliament deposng King Oscar was
respectful and sympathetic in tone, while that
monarchs address to the Swedish Parliament
on the same subject was a model of pathos
and dignity. There has really not been one
unpleasa note in the whole business. In that
respect these two nations present a striking
contrast to the fierce fulminations that have
marked Irelands demand for separation from
England and the menaces of Hungary's and Bo-
hemias secession from Austria. Those North
erners have strong and deep passions, but they
also have cool heads and masterful self-con-
troll
We are the more strongly reminded of the
high plane and the high tone of this contPo-
versy by perusal of a little volume just issued
by the Macmillans, containing a succinct his
tory of Norway's union with Sweden. 1t is
written by the eminent explorer Dr. Frithjof
Nansen, and of course from the Norwegian
point OF view It is also a direct contribution
to an existing and not yet finished controversy,
Yet it is written with much Of the restraint
and philosOphic calm that we might look for
in the treatment of something that was over
and done with a century ago. An international
dispute conducted not by soldiers under arms
or by impassioned politicians, but by men of
letters and science such as Frithjof Nansen
on the one side, and Sven Hedln, on the other
affords an agreeable and inspiring contrast to
much of the political and diplomatic hurly-
burly TO which the world IS accustomed.