The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1905-06-03
SCANDINAVIAN CRISIS.

SCANDINAVIAN CRISIS.
The grave crisis in Scandinavian af-
fairs following Immediately upon the
Kings resumption of his functions Is
creating considerable interest in AS
toria, where large number of former
residents OF that country reside. The
king is exercising his psrogative to an
unusual extent, and has refused to sign
a measure enacted by the Norwegian
parliament and in consequence the
Norwegian minister has resigned,
This is the latest and thus far most
serious development in a process that
for some time has seemed to be max
ing strongly toward Scandinavian dis
union. The overtures of the Crown
Prince Regent to the Norwegians have
failed OF their desired effect and the
western kingdom is pursuing its own
way regardless OF its partner. The
.ntroversy between them. 1t will be
recalled, has of late chiefly turned up
on the question of separate consular
services, and seeing that one country
Is protectionist and the other inclines
toward free trade, the Norwegian desire
for such separate services seems not
unreasonable. Now, failing to come
to an agreement with Sweden upon the
matter. the Norwegian government has
sought to settle 1t for itself by enact
ing the establishment. beginning on
April /, 1906, Of an independent Nor
wegian consular service, which Is to
be under the direction of a Norwegian
government bureau and in no wise
subject, as in the present consular SER
vice, to the ministry of foreign affairs
which is common to both kingdoms
Seeing how largely consuls have to do
with political and diplomatic matters,
the significance of the step is apparent.
1t practically means that Sweden aHd
Norway will hereafter present not a
united, but a divided front to the rest
of the world. II in their foreign rela-
tions they are divided, they can scarce
ly remain closely united in domestic |
affairs. 1t is scarcely to be wondered !
at that King Oscar declines to ap-
prove so revolutionary a measure.
A few years ago Norway moved for
a remaking of the national flags so as
to obliterate from them the symbol of
union. To this Sweden would not as
sent, and the Swedish flag still re-
mains unaltered But Norway did for
herself what she had suggested, and
today her flag exhibits no sign of the
union with Sweden. She is now, by
legislative and administrative, acts
putting into practice what she then
sought In theory and in insignia, and
1t will take few more steps to COM
plete the dissolution of the union that
has existed since 1914. There is no
thought that Sweden will try to pre-
vent 1t by force, and even peaceful ef-
forts to avert the rupture are now be-
ing much relaxed as hopeless. 1t
would not be surprising, tken, If in the
near future the union were dissolved,
as Norway apparently wishes and in
tends it should be. What then? 1t
is understood that Norway would seek
to make, in place Of the union, a de-
+ nsive alliance with Sweden. There /
are, however, grave reasons for doubt
ing whether Sweden would accent /
such an arrangement. Many Of her +
most represe NATIVE and influential 5
men are strongly opposed to it, ana are +
demanding that Norway if she per- s
sisss in severing the union, shall be a
left to her own devices, to work out Y
her own salvation v
1t is pointed out that Norway. left d
10 herself, might soon become the OBJ t
ject Of Rssian aggression. Russia fl
has long been trying in some way to 4
o gst access to the Atlantic through t
and Tromsoe and if Norway II
we're unsupported by any other power,
Russia would have no trouble in seiz-
ng those provinces, especially since d
Norway has neglected to fortify them :, =
n any way, expending her military ,s
repartions instead upon the Swedish r