The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1905-07-08
WHY NORWAY
LEFT SWEDEN
THE CAUSES WHICH LED TO THE
PRESENT GRAVE STATE OF AT
FAIRS IN SCANDINAVIA.

The immediate cause of the rupture
between Norway and Sweden was the
veto by King Oscar of the act creating
a separate consular system for Nor
way. For many years the Norwegians
have insisted that they should be re-
presented in foreign countries by con-
that Norwegian ships frequented the
seaports of the whole world and that
Norwegian sailors should have their
rights guarded bv men of their own
nationality This claim was denied
by Sweden and constant friction was
the result.
Back of the consular question were
others of even greater Importance. The
Swedes asserted that Norway was
coded to them by Denmark by the
treaty of peace signed at Kiel January
IA, 1914. Up to that time Norway had
formed a part of the Danish kingdom,
so it was claimed that the transfer was
legal and right and that constitutional
ly Norway thereafter belonged to Swe-
den. This the Norwegians have al
ways denied. In an article printed in
The Daily News April last DR.. Fridt-
jof Nansen, who has taken an active
part in the controversy, pointed out
that Norway had never formally agreed
to a partnership with Sweden. He
wrote:
There is nothing whatever in either
the Norwegian or in the Swedish fun
damental law of the nature of a treaty
! I, 20,
concern the countries jointly was en-
bodied in sparate special treaty-the
rigsakt of August 6, 1915. This does
not contain word about consuls at
all, and the two countries are, there
fore, not bound either legally or moral
ly to partnership in the matter"
The Statesman's Year Book, an Eng
lish publication recognized as a stan
dard authority says of the union:
by the treaty of Kiel, January A.
1914, Norway was coded to the king of
Sweden by the king of Denmark, but
the Norwegian people did not recognize
this cession and declared themselves
Independent. A constituent assembly
met at EidsVold and having adopted
on May IT, a constitution, elected the
Danish Prince Christian FredFrik King
of Norway. The Swedish troops how
ever entered Norway and, the foreign
powers refusing to recognize the newly
elected king, the parties concluded,
August IA, the convent on of Moss, by
which the independence Of Norway in
union with Sweden was solemnly pro-
claimed.
IAN extraordinary atorthng was
then convoked, which adopted the mo-
difiications in the constitution made
necessary by the union with Sweden
and then elected King Carl XIII king
of Norway November 4, 1914. The fol-
lowing year was promulgated a char
ter, the riksakt, establishing new fun
damental laws on the terms that the
union of the two kingdoms be indis-
soluble and irrevocable, without pre-
JUDGE, however, to the separate gov
eminent, constitution and code of laws
of either Sweden or Norway"
There have been may disputes be-
tween the two countries since the union
began particularly over the relation of
foreign affairs The flag question
was debated for a number of years
and ended in Norway adopting a Sc
| parate flag without the symbol of
union which had been placed upon 1t.
The consular question, however, was
the one that caused the greatest
amount of friction. In 1903 an agree
ment seemed to have been reached
| satisfactory to both countries, but it
fell through. Recently all the poll
dcal parties in Norway united and Sc