The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-07-26
DOUGLASS HAS A PLAN.
Still Hopes for the ReunitinS OF
Sweden and Norway.

Especial Correspondence of the Assoa
ciated Press.1
Stockholm, Sweden, July 13.-Count
l.. Douglass. former minister for for
eign affairs of Sweden and Norway,
now governor general of the province
Ostergoetland and leader of the
storsvenska or patriotic party, whose
name has been mentioned az the next
spondent today. while awaiting the
publication of the report of the meet
ing appointed by the riksdag to deal
with the crisis between Sweden and
Norway. Count Douglass said:
'In Norway they say, and have
spread broadcast over the world, that
the 'storsvenska' party is a party of
nobility, the object of which is to give
government. This talk is, as all sane
persons know, mere nonsense and
childishness. They also say that our
object is to give Sweden some kind OF
sovereignty over Norway. Such was
never our object; as you know Norway
has in respect of safe government
been one of the freest nations in the
world. But the fact is that long be-
fore the secession other parties per-
ceived the duplicity of some Nor
wegians who were working with the
object in view of causing a separation.
To obtain their object they were inces-
sanity searching for seeds of dissen-s
sion and when found planted thens
they worked hard and heartily for dis
solution and we worked as hard to
counteract their efforts.
''In the first period after the NorWe--
gian revolution and after the Swedish
people had recovered from the stun
ming insult to it, and its king, many
persons came to the conclusion that it
is well as it is; if they (the NOrWe-
gians) are unwilling to live in peace
with US and share the apparent bless
ings of this union of more than ninety
years duration, let them go their own
-rrfII hut III
could have chosen more honorable
way to break off this union That at
least we might have good reasons to
expect. Now. when the first excite
ment has passed, Sweden ought to ex-
ert herself to the utmost not to give
up the union because in reality the
differences are SO insignificant that
they easily could be overcome. A new
union must be offered by US to the
Norwegians, founded on full liberty,
equality and interdependence of both
countries, but in which the principle
that the Scandinavian peninsula as
against the world, is one must be
consequently carried through. Thus
we must besides q common king have
common departments of foreign ofi1-
GERS, of commerce and navigation, OF
war and of the navy. And the penfn-
sula must be joined in a commercial
union so far as the commercial policy
is concerned. All the places In these
four departments from the highest to
Swedes or Norwegians. A union par-
lament meeting alternately in Stock
holm and Christiania should have con-
troll over the common interests and 10
this parliament the cabinet members
for the common departments should
be responsible
ouestion until after the Swedish elec-
| tions is correct. In the meantime
Swedes will ask the powers not to ac-
LnOwIedge Norway as an independen6
| state until the new riksdag has had
an opportunity to express the will OF
| the Swedish people.
'In conclusion, let me express the
hone that the Swedes and Norwegians
who have taken up their abode in the
United States will be able to see the
| things here at home in that clear way
which distance sometimes enables US
| to do In their unbiased opinion.
think they will see that such settle
ment of the crisis as outlined in this
| interview is not only feasible but the
most honorable for both parties"