The Minneapolis journal., 1905-09-25
BY w. 3. CHAMBERLAIN.
Managing Editor Of The journal.

The peace of Karlstad is now about
to pass into history. 1t is the triumph
ant issue of negotiations into which
the brother nations of Scandinavia en-
tered, and in the course of which each
has made momentous concessions for
the sake of permanent peace and ami
ty on the peninsula. 1t is an achieve
ment more noteworthy in some of its
i aspects than the peace of Portsmouth,
'sor it was reached without the she'd
ding of one drop of human blood.
. While it has not the worldwide sig
nifcance Of the treaty which President
Roosevelt brought about, it is dem
onstration that two nations can settle
their differences, even when national
honor is involved, in a highly rational
and civilized manner without resort to
the arbitrament of arms. A more tell
ing object-lesson for the world would
be difficult to conceive.
Norway May Object.
There is still some apprehension that
the terms of the protocol may not be
acceptable to Norway. There is fear
great outcry over the demolition of the
forts and that the storthing may hest
tate to ratify the treaty for fear of
public opinion. This fear was evident
Saturday after the delegates had re-
turned to their homes. Altho the terms
were kept secret, the agreement being
that they were to be published this
week in the two capitals simultaneous
ly, enough of the truth leaked out to
cause much apprehension. The news
papers uttered warnings against ill-con,
Sidered demonstrations
The utterances Of Verdens Gang
were peculiarly significant, because OF
the fact that its editor, Mr.. Thommes
sen, stands very close to the govern
ment leaders. Verdens Gang admon
ished its readers to accept the agree
ment without unnecessary objection
maintaining that the delegates hac
"accepted only what was necessary fol
the maintenance of peace and not what
~ould be prejudicial to the Norwegian
seople.'' The younger element were
1varned not to indulge in demonstra
Sions that would avail nothing and only
aurt Norway's cause. This was thu
significant language Mr.. Thommesse1
employed. Unquestionably, he hal
known all along just what was being
done and he feared that in the frs
might do and say things for which
they would be sorry later on:
To show how close Mr. Thommessen i
to the present rules of Norway [ may
perhaps mention the fact that at hi
country house the night before /, lef
Christiania I met as fellow guests thre'
s of the four delegates who represented
Norway at Karlstad. These were For
eign Minister Loevland, President Ber
ner of the storthing and former Min
lister of the Interior Vogt. Premie
Nicholson, the fourth, was prevented
from being present only by illness. Th
warnings of Verdens Gang thus assum
a peculiar and almost official signif
cance. The delegates have been striv
ing to prepare the Norwegian people fo
some disappointment. So -a..
Will the Storthing Ratify?
The momentous question now j
8 whether the all-powerful storthing Wi
accept and ratify the agreement. it
agents have made. The storthing is tt
day the most powerful deliberative bod
in the world within its own sphere Q
action. It is the government OF Nol
way, and has been since June Z. Ye
its actions have been well considere
and conservative. It has a deep sens
Of its responsibilities. The four me
it sent to Karlstad were those in whol
it had the most implicit confdenc
There was Nicholson, the brilliant pr,
mier, who had led his country skilfull
thru all the complications into it's pre-
ent commanding position. There VIZ
Loevland, the man Of solid worth, b
many considered the real brains of tt
government. There was the venerab
Berner, the dignifed and beloved pres