The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-09-19
BY HUGO VALENTINE,
eclal correspondent Of The journal.

SPecIai correspondent OF ne journal
Stockholm, Sweden, Sept. 6.-The
conference in Karlstad has now been
sitting whole week and as yet no
news has leaked out about what has
been done. No locality could be more
suited to keeping the proceedings real
where the sessions are held.
The journalists from near and far
who have overrun this little provincial
town, seeing the futility of trying to
ferret out any news, have made up
their minds to return to their respective
headquarters. All the delegates and
especially the two premiers are sur
rounded by interviewers as soon as they
show themselves, but they always eyade
the principal questions, saying there is
nothing to tell and asking the inter
viewer to keep everything they said,
secret! The delegates have, it seems, been
on very friendly terms. One day they
all dined together and this dinner is re-
ported to have passed off excellently.
The journalists, among whom there has
been great number Of representa- ives
Of the Norwegian press, have been
obliged to satisfy their readers with de-
scriptions Of the town, its surround
ings, the personal appearance Of the
delegates, where they have lunched and
where they have dined, when they have
gone out and when they have gone to
bed. ~ For the rest, they have frater-
nized and made excursions in the neigh
borhood. Every day the communica-
ton from the secretaries of the confer
ence to the press invariably has been:
Nothing to communicate.
Peaceful Solution Coming.
AS far as I can see, however, and as
far as my information goes there is a
good prospect for peaceful solution.
AS I wrote in my last letter, the prin-
cipal issue is the frontier forts. Nor
way will be obliged to demolish them.
too sensible and clever and too good
statesmen not to see the risk Norway
runs if a good understanding with
Sweden is not established quickly.
Even if a refusal to meet Sweden IS
modest demands should not lead to an
armed conflict, it is certain that it
would have a most damaging influence
on NorWay's financial position. Al
ready Norway is very heavily taxed
In some parts the combined govern.
ment and municipal taxes are 25 pei
cent of the declared income. I don u
think it anywhere falls below fifteen
It is easily understood how necessary
| it is for Norway to get speedily back
| to normal conditions with a government
| that is recognized not only by Sweder
| but by the rest Of the world.
| Crisis Bad for Business.
The present state of affairs has al
ready had bad influence on the com
mercial relations with other nations
One of the principal interests is the
| shipping, the tonnage being the third
in Europe. It is, perhaps, not. SO gen,
orally known. that about 70 per cent Of
| this tonnage really belongs to English
firms, who have put their vessels under
the Norwegian fl ag, as the loading-line
law is not SO strict in Norway as il
England, and as Norwegian ships have
had special facilities in Swedish ports
in the way of harbor dues. And as {
great many Of the Norwegian ships
have been employed in the export bust
ness Of timber from the northern Swed
ish ports, this has been of no small
importance. But as since the 7th OF
June no Norwegian ships are chartered
by Swedish exporters, and as there nat
urally is reluctance on the part OF
the English owners to run their ships
under flag that is not recognized, the
withdrawal, of a part Of this tonnage
has already begun and more are sure
Ito follow. This is a matter which the
Irresponsible Norwegian statesmen must
| take into consideration.