The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1905-09-05
RUSSIA AND
GERMANY
Continued from Page u

Continued from Page u
the obliga ton of closing the sound
and the great and little pelt, would ex-
pose herself to an attack by the En-
glish which would place her insular
territory in their hands. She would
risk more in assuming those new obi
cations than in strictly fulfilling those
imposed upon her by her present posi-
ton. Russia, which has nothing to
fear from a British fleet for the broken
coast line of Finland, would have no
great interest. in tying her hands and
indirectly consenting in advace to am
invasion OF Denmark by Germany
/ At the same time it begins to appear
here to the students of diplomacy as
though the Mediterranean was not a
! sufficient field for the operations of
German enthusiasm and energy. There
are those however. who regard the en-
tire matter as ballon dessei by
Prince Buelow to ascertain the present
/ direction of diplomatic currents. Ger
many might almost succeed in closing
the Baltic if she We're to complete the
absorption of Denmark and to impose
| her suzerainty upon Sweden.
| Unfortunately for himself the kaiser
/ in his attempt to create the Baltic in
| to sort of Black sea seems to have
| omfuted the cables from his calcula-
tons. The result has been that his
diplomatic Juggling has been quickly
discovered by the powers concerned.
The German plans which succeeded SO
admira bly, in 1870 have been frustrat-
ed by the more modern and more rapid
methods of conlnunica ton The
schemes of the kaiser have been made
known to all of the chancellories
shortly after they We're propounded,
and have consequently been rendered
innocuous The attempt of the kaiser
to place a prince of his house upon
the throne of Norway failed because
of premature publicity. The recent con-
ference with the car suffered because
of the hurried counter movements on
the part of the other nations of Eu-
rope.
AS a result of all this discussion, and
of these attempts to drag Norway and
Sweden into this closed sea controver-
sy, it is possible that the two Scan |
dinavian nations will be driven to- |
gether and obliged to adopt at least |
some common means of offense and de- |
Tense. This union of the two coun-
tries, possibly not under single execu- |
tive, but connected by some form of |
treaty or alliance, might have been |
brought about in the near future in |
any event. Possibly the movements of |
the German emperor in reference to |
the closed sea have only precipitated |
matters. England, which is friendly to !
Sweden, as will be shown by the COM /
ing of the channel fleet, may be re-
lied upon to use her good Offices with |
Norway
In their acceptance of the Swedish |
suggestion of a referendum and in their |
choice of the method of putting that |
suggestion into effect the Norwegians
have taken a position which will make |
it easier for the two nations to cooper |
ate in the event of necessity or in emer-
gency provided they are menaced by
outside foes.
The Swedes on their side have been |.
fairly expeditions, and both chambers /
have adopted the proposals of the spe-
cial committee unanimously. In the i
case of the first chamber in which
and conservative feeling is
strong, this is rather remarkable, and
to some extent minimizes the unfavor-
able impression created by the resig-
nation of the Ramstedt cabinet. The
riksdag will still continue in extra
ordinary session, though the actual sit
tings will be suspended and members
allowed to return to their homes. They |,
will be within reach of the telegraph |
and can return to Stockholm when re-
quired to deliberate upon the action of
Norway.
The next step, according to the
Swedish program will be for Norway
to make representations to Sweden re-
garding repeal of the riksakt
and the dissolution of the union.
This step is probably the one which :.
will cause the most understanding in
for it will involve the virtual
if not the explicit abandonment of the
that the union is already
dissolved. Sweden is standing out not
for a resuscitation of the old union,
but for her right to assist at its OBJ
sequies, and Norway has nothing to
gain by challenging her on this point.
Both people have made up their /
minds that they desire dissolution. and
the form which it takes is really a
matter of secondary importance. IF
Norway can bring herself to make
representations to Sweden in accord
ance with the report of the special
committee of the riksdag, it is thought
that the actual conditions laid down
by Sweden ought not to present any
very great difficulties. Some questions
growing out of the dismantling of the
Notifications on the frontier are likely |
to cause some differences of opinion |
Norway has several forts along this
line, all equipped with expensive mod
ern artillery; Sweden is without a cor
called upon to sacrifice her existing
Notifications. while Sweden in return Il
gives pledge that she viii not estab- |
fish ions he |