The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-06-21
KING OSCAR JOINS
WITH MINISTERS
Aged Monarch, with Marked
Emotion, Addresses the Riks-
dag and People.
Government Introduces Bill for
Conference with Norway
Over Separation.

Stockholm, Sweden, June 21.-The
extraordinary session of the riksdaa
summoned by King Oscar to deal with
the momentous question raised by Nor
met for business today.
. The government Immediately intro
duced bill asking for authorization
to enter into negotiations with the
Norwegian storthing and draw up
conditional settlement Of the questions
involved in the separation Of the here.
tofore dual kingdom.
The session was opened by King Os.
car in person with the usual ceremonial.
The members Of the royal family and
the members of both houses, having
previously attended divine service in
the royal chapel, assembled in the i'm.
building. The queen, the prin cess and
the ladies Of the court, who wore eve.
ming dresses with jewels, occupied a gal.
lery on the left, and the diplomatists
wearing court uniforms, were seated In
the right hand gallery, while the spaces
open to the public were filed.
King In Royal Robes.
King Oscar, arrayed in the royal
robes of purple and ermine, with the
crown on his head and the scepter in
his hand; the princes in their robes
of ermine and blue and with their coro.
nets on, and the high court functiona-
riesg in full uniform, with their ribbons
the hall while the national anthem was
played.
The king seated himself on the
throne, a massive, high-seated structure
Of solid silver, raised on high dais,
There, surrounded by the princes and
&c. ta
ing figure and white hair under the
g1ittering crown, his gray beard and
fne-cut features, wearing an expression
of great gravity, attracted the sym
patty of the whole concourse.
The state marshal, having taken the
ence rose, and the king, in a clear, SO.
norous voice, which was. heard turnout
the hall, read his speech. He said:
King Oscars Speech.
| 'sIt is painful step which the eoun.
| Gil in state calls on me to take. Ny
conscience tells me that I have during
!! the object I had in mind at the time
/ of my accession, namely, the welfare
Of the brother peoples. It is truly pain.
1 full to me to contribute to the dissolu::
tion Of union in which ! thought ]
saw the independence, security and hap.
pinegss Of the united kingdoms:
/ eff, however, l am ready to act thus,
it is in order to avoid still worse
i evil, and in the conviction that the
union, without mutual accord, would
bring no real advantage to Sweden.
Acted with Conscience.
III have acted" the king said,o in
accordance with my conscience and al.
ways in conformity with the constitu.
ton and with the desire to work con-
scientiously for the true welfare Of the
two peoples. The bill presented to the
riksdag does not aim at reply to IN
! justice by acts Of coercion. The union
coercion would entail. A union into
which Norway would be forced in such
a manner would be Of little value to
Sweden.'
i The king concluded by expressing
| the hope that the Swedish people
I would be guided by calmness and pru-
dence and that God would give them
their own frontiers what they had lost
i with the dissolution of the union.
His majesty showed marked emo
ton when he referred to the recent
, events in Norway and affirmed that his
action was dictated by regard for the
true welfare of the two countries. HIS
speech was heard in tense silence, and
there were tears in many eyes, while tho
stern gravity of the majority of the
faces gave evidence Of deep apprecia-
ton Of the momentousness Of the oc-
J casion.
! When the king had concluded, the
president of the chambers stepped for.
ward and conveyed to him assurances OF
, the devotion Of the chambers to his
majesty.
In Council Of State.
In the council of state, which has Sane.
!, toned the introduction Of the bill in
; the riksdsg dealing with the crisis, both
: the king and the premier were on the
| side Of pacific solution.
Premier Ramstedt spoke first, point
ing out that it was not to Sweden Z
! interest to resort to coercive measures
/ He recommended therefore that before
: entering into negotiations for con
vention, guarantees should be obtained
conducive to the mutual welfare of the
two countries. In any case, he de-
3 clared, negotiations were indispensable
8 to definitely clear up the situation.
The premier suggested that delegates
: be appointed to this end, as it was only
l after such a conditional settlement and
9 after the riksdag had fully considered
$ the matter, that Sweden would be in 9
: position to decide as to her defnitivt
s approval Of the dissolution and agree
0 to annulling the act Of union.