The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-08-15
VOTE
:. CLEARS THE WAY
DISUNION CRISIS
NEARER SOLUTION
Negotiations for Final Swedish
Norwegian Treaty Likely to .
Begin Very Soon.
Special Cablegram to The Journal.

Special Cablegram to The Journal.
Christiania, Norway, Aug. 15.-The
overwhelming mandate Of the people
of Norway given in the referendum of
Sunday for the permanent dissolution
Of the union with Sweden was no sur
prise to Norwegian statesmen, however
unexpected it may have been to those
Swedish leaders who have maintained
that the Nicholson program has never
had the support of the people. It's first
result has been to clear the atmosphere,
not only here but in Stockholm, and to
bring the final peaceful solution Of the
crisis nearer than it has ever seemed
before. s' .-t ~ E@.sf
The storthing at it's resumed session
next week will no doubt enter at once
into negotiations with the Swedish riks-
dag that will result in final treaty
between the two countries.
The riksdag's proposal Of July 25 will
form the basis of these negotiations,
and no doubts are entertained here that
common ground will easily be found.
sweden's Proposal Fair.
The more Sweden IS proposal that the
frontier forts be demolished and neu-
trail zone established with an agreement
on both sides not to fortify, is . eX-
amined, the fairer it seems to be. In
the end, Norway will probably accept
this condition, in the belief that it will
| lead to permanent peace and amlty be-
tween the two nations.
The other conditions, relating to un.
| hampered transportation on the Swed
ish-N orwegian railroad to Narvik or
the Often ford and to pasturage in the
Norwegian mountains for the Swedish
Lapps, will present no obstacles.
One Critical Point. ..<.
The one critical point in the nego
tiations will be Sweden s demand thai
the act of June 7, when the storthins
declared Norway's independence, be re
tracted. 1t is not likely that Norway
will ever consent to this. The act o!
June 7 is an accomplished thing and i
can never be retracted. All Of the minis
tiers and leaders in the storthing art
agreed upon this point and if Sweden
presses it., the negotiations will fail.
The point, of course, is not OF practl
cal Importance, so long as the independ
ence Of Norway is conceded by Sweden
It is matter Of sentiment on boil
sides. Sweden does not want to adml
formally that Norway had the right t.
dissolve the union and set up its owl
government. Norway does not want t.
admit that it's course was in any singh
particular illegal or unconstitutional. S.
, | IL lS pld11l GudU UuC COunUl VI tHO OUuC
must swallow it's pride, if a peaceful
issue of the crisis is to be secured.
Permanent Government.
With the clearing of the politica
skies, the question Of Norway's perma
nent form Of government becomes O
great moment. There is no reason t.
alter the prediction made by your stat
correspondent in his letters and cayble
grams that the monarchy would be con
tinued in spite Of the fact that tn
people Of Norway want republic. Thi
prediction was based on the statement
of the leading members of the presen
government. They all admit that
referendum on the subject would prob
ably result in a. mandate for arepublic
! but they add that there is little ditfe,
! ence in substance between a republi
= and a constitutional monarchy, and tina