The Colorado statesman., 1905-07-29
NORWAY and SWEDEN
ACTION OF SWEDISH RIesDAa
Cabinet Resigns Because Government
Proposition Is Not Adopted
by Rigsdag.


Stockholm, Sweden, July 27.-The
Cabinet has resigned as result OF
the Riksdag's action in disappearing
the government proposition for adjust
ment of the trouble with Norway.
The special committee appointed by
the Rigsdag to deal with the crisis
which created the revolution yester-
day delivered it's report. The COM
mittee declares unanimously that the
government bill cannot be adopted in
the form in which it was presented to
the Rigsdag and proposes that the
Rigsdag shall signify its willingness II
the newly elected Storthing requests
repeal of the act of union and dis
solution of the union or If such request
is received from Norway after the
Norwegian people by plebiscite have
declared in favor of dissolution OF
the union.
The committe. recommends that In
the event of dissolution of the union,
Sweden should insist on the following
terms:
"First-The establishment of zone
on each side of the frontier separating
the kingdoms, within which the exist
ing Notifications shall be razed and
new Notifications may not be erected.
"Second-The right of pasturing
reindeer beloNing to Swedish Lap
landers in North Norway.
"Third-That the transit trade
through both countries shall be Sc
cured against unjustifiable obstruc-
ton.
"Fourth-That the status of Sweden
in respect to foreign powers as estab-
lished by treaty shall be clearly de-
fined, so that Sweden shall be COM
pletely freed from responsibility for
Norway to other states"
The committee also regards an ar
bitration convention between Sweden
and Norway as desirable, although 1t
does not consider 1t an essential con-
dition for the dissolution of the Union.
The committee further proposes to
authorize the government to raise a
loan of $25,000,000 which can, by a
resolution of the Rigsdag, be made
available for such readjustments and
arrangements as may be necessitated
by the new conditions.
Regarding eventful negotiations
with Norway, the committee declares
that Whatever may be demanded for
the welfare and dignity of Sweden as
a condition of the repeal of the act OF
union on the part of Sweden and of
the recognition of Norway, must be
claimed and adhered to with vigor
and determination"
The preamble of the committees re-
port is a lengthy recitation of the
events leading up to the committees
appointment, claiming that Sweden
made all possible concessions in order
to maintain the union. Despite these
efforts the differences grew until they
o1; in, hn
"It is self-evident," declares the
committee, ''that the union was not
dissolved by the Storthing's action. A
contract can not be broken by one
party's parliament. Therefore the
Storthing's action can only be consid-
cred as Norway's declaration that she
does not desire any longer to main
tain it. 1t is for Sweden to decide
what action is necessary.
According to the laws she would
be fully justified in using the neces-
sary force to re-establish the union.
This would seem to be the natural
course in the first excitement, but re-
Election shows that it would be against
The true interests of Sweden. There
was great mutual advantage in the un-
ion, but it's maintenance by force
would make the union a source of
weakness instead of strength. Sweden
should not therefore employ force, but
must insist that its permission is nec-
essary to it's dissolution. Sweden
must agree to the cancellation of the
act of union on certain conditions, in
sisting as a preliminary on a satisfac-
tory settlement of all affairs mutually
affecting the two countries"
;Nf