The San Francisco call., 1905-06-21
NoRwAY,s REPLY TO KING OSCAR.
stOrthfng's Address Is ConcfIfatory,
but Determined.


CHRISTIANIA, Norway. June 90
The address TO King oscar and the
Swedish Riksdag, adopted by the Stor-
thing yesterday, in reply to the long
letter which the King sent on June
13 TO the president of the Stortnlng, is
of a conciliatory character. At the
same time it indicates the unalterable
determination of the Storthing to ad-
here TO the action taken in dissolving
the union with Sweden. The text is as
follows:
Your Majesty. Norways Storthing respect
fully begs 10 address your Majesty, and.
through your Majesty, Sweden's kiksdag and
Sweden's psople follows:
What has happened recently In Norway Is
the inevitable result OF combination of late
political events and cannot be altered, and as
II is certain that neither Of the two peoples is
dcsIrOus OF returning 70 the former condition OF
union The Storthing is OF the opinion that Il
ought 70 reconsider the various questions
OF the constitution ard public law that have
been brought up in your Ma5estys note 10 the
Erortlins s president IN connection with the
resolutions <dopted and on which the Storthlng
and the Government have already expressed
themselves in detail
The Storthng recognizes fully vour Maj
esty's position and never for a moment has
doubted that your Majestys decisions are IN
accordance with what your Majesty has re-
garded the rights and duties Of the crown.
At the same time the Storthing is deslrous Of
addressing an appeal TO your Majesty, the
Riksdag ana the people OF sweden, with the
object OF contributing 70 the peaceful carry
ing through Of the dissolution Of the union and
the safeguarding OF the friendship and accord
OF the two peoples OF the peninsula
The Storthing has seen. from expressions Of
opinion. that the resolution the Storthng
felt it 70 be its duty to the fatherland TO
adopt In declaring the union Of the two king
dons dissolved has. IN form and action, been
considered mortifying 10 Sweden That has
never been Its intention. What has happened
and had to happen in Norway merely the
inevitable maintenance OF Norway's constitu-
tional rights The Norwegian people never
intended 10 assall Swedens honor AS Your
Majesty, in council May 26. declared you
were unable TO sanction the Storthings
imOus resolution for separation of the Nor
wegan consular service. and Norwegian
Government could be obtained by your Maj
esty, the constitutional state OF Norway
be maintained. Upon Norways Storthing.
therefore. imposed the necessity OF pro-
curing without delay Government for the
country Every other course was closed, all
the more your Majesty's Swedish Gov
ernment had April %, already explicitly
declined 70 enter into new negotiations with
the dissolution OF the union as an alternative
in the event that IL found impossible 20
arrive at an agreement in regard to a
form Of union.
The storthing. as already stated. and the
Norwegian people DO not feel any bitterness
OF amnesty against - your Majesty or the
trary, which, possibly, were uttered on occa-
sions. have wholly and solely been grounded
On dissatisfaction at Norway's position in the
union and that source of bitterness and ami
mostly would disappear with the dissolution
OF the union it's effects also would vanish
Ninety years Of cooperation in material and
Intellectual labors have awakened in the Nor
wegian people feelings OF sincere friendship
and sympathy for the Swedish people. These
feelings VIII with Norway no longer occupy
ing position offensive to her national inde-
pendence. once more grow apace and insure
the entrance OF mutual understanding be-
tween the peoples.
In the belief that the Swedish people share
these views the Storthing suggests to Swe-
den's constitutional authority that they enter
upon the negotiations requisite for a final set
fiement on the dissolution of the union, with
the recognition Of Norways new status and
her rights e sovereign state The Storfhing
is itself prepared 10 meet every fair and rea-
sonable wish that may lie put forward to safe
guard the Kingdoms independence and integ-
rfty. Constitutionaliy the two peoples will
henceforth be separate but the same time
the StorthinR is fully convinced that this will
lead TO the development OF good and trlstful
relationship for the defense Of their mutual in
terests.
II the further settlement can be attained
without bitterness and prejudice. the Storthing
is convinced that what has happened Will
prove for the lasting welfare OF the northern
peoples. For the sake OF the north the
Sforthing addresses this appeal 10 the people,
which. by its magnanirlity and chivalry has
attained for itself such an eminent place
among nations and with which the Norwegian
people desire most sincerely 70 maintain good
relations