Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1905-06-29
MEETING OF RIESDAG
Extraordinary Session Was Called
to Consider NOrway's Secession.
WILL NOT FORCIDLY RESIST ACTION.
King oscar in an Address DeploTes
the Dissolution Of the Union. But
Councils CaImness and
Prudence.

Stockholm, Sweden, June 22.-Tne
extraordinary session OF the riksdas
summoned by King Oscar to deal with
Norway's declaration dissolving the
union, met for business Wednesday
As forecasted by the Associated Press
the government Immediately intro
duced a bill asking for authorization
to enter into negotiations with the
Norwegian storthing and draw up q
conditional settlement Of the questions
involved in the separation OF the
heretofore dual kingdom.
The session was opened by King
Oscar In person with the usual cere-
monial. The king made speech from
the throne in which he protested
against the charge that by violation oil
the constitution he had provoked the
step taken by Norway.
In the council of state which sane
toned the introduction of the bill
in the riksdag dealing with the crisis.
both the king and the premier were on
the side Of a pacific solution.
Premier Ramstedt spoke first, point
ing out that 1t was not to Sweden's
interest to resort to coercive measures,
He recommended therefore entering
into negotiations for a convention
by which guarantees should be OBJ
tanned conducive to the mutual well
fare of the two countries. In any
case he declared negotiations were In
dispensable to clear up the situation
definitely.
The premier suggested that delegates
be appointed to this end as 1t was only
after such conditional settlement and
after the riksdag had fully considered
the matter that Sweden would be in q
position to decide as to her defnitive
approval Of the dissolution and agree
to annulling the act Of union.
After several members had acquiesced
in the premier's views, King Oscar
with visible emotion spoke as follows.
at is a painful step which the coun-
ell of state calls on me to take. My
conscience tells me that have during
my long reign always striVen towards
the object l had in mind at the time
of my accession. namely, the welfare
of the brother peoples. 1t is truly
painful to me to contribute to the
dissolution OF a union in which ]
thought l saw the independence, Sc
curity and happiness of the united
kingdoms. If, however, am ready
10 act thus II is in order to avoid
still worse evil and in the conviction
that the union without mutual accord
would bring no real advantage to
Sweden"
II have acted" the king said, "in
accordance with my conscience and al
ways in conformity with the consti'
tuition and with the desire to work
conscientiously for the true welfare of
the peoples The bill presented to
the rlksdag does not aim at replying
TO injustice by acts of coercion. The
union is not worth the sacrifices
which acts of coercion would entail.
A union into which Norway would be
forced IN such a manner, would be
Of little value to Sweden"
The king concluded with expressing
the hope that the Swedish people
would be guided by calmness and pru-
dence ard that God would give them
strength and unity to regain within
their own frontiers what they had lost
by the dissolution of the union.
His majesty showed marked emotion
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 was tears in many eyes, while
the stern gravity Of the majority OF the
faces gave evidence of deep appreci-
alton Of the monentousness Of the &C.
cassion.
When the king had concluded the
presidents of the chambers stepped
forward and conveyed to him assur-
ances of the devotion of the chambers
4 ~