Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1905-06-13
NORWAY AND SWEDEN.
The Two Countries Have Never Got.
ten Along Satisfactorily.

the allies In 1913 and the adoption OF
the treaty Of Vienna the following
year, by which Denmark was forced to
cede Norway to Sweden. there has
been more or less contention between
the two countries for severance.
Matters, however. did not reach an
acute stage until the early part Of 1908
when the storthing of Norway declar-
ed in favor Of separate Norwegian
consulates, King Oscar refused his
sanction to the arrangement and the
Liberal cabinet Immediately resigned.
Later. upon promises that the subject
would be adjourned for further con-
sideration the cabinet was persuaded
to resume office. 1t was deemed to be
the opening wedge for the final dis
solution Of the Scandinavian union.
and there Immediately sprung into ex-
istence two parties, the Liberals and
the Radicals. The former opposed
dissolution and the latter clarnored for
It.
Among the first measures consider
ed by the storthing OF 1893 was the
proposition increasing the effective
ness Of the Swedish army. The Nor
wegians interpreted this to mean a
menace to their independence. At this
time the Stockholm government show
ed tendency toward an alliance with
Russia and France.
The debates in the storthing ended
March II. 1898, In a definite rejection
of the compromise offered by King
Oscar, which was In effect that the
foreign minister Of the union should be
alternately Swede and a Norwegian.
with Norway having a fair represen-
tation in the diplomatic and consular
service. ~
The storthing placed itself on rec
ord after rejection Of the compro-
mise by passing resolution giving TO
Norway the right to a separate and
distinct diplomatic and consular estab-
lishment. as well as complete aa-
tonomy In all matters not described
in the act Of union as pertaining to
the union. The situation rapidly as
sumed threatening proportions and
open revolt was talked.
The king refused to give his sane
ton to the resolution above noted, and
the Norwegian ministry forthwith re-
signed and a new one Immediately
formed under the Conservative leader
Stang. This minister. however, was
censured by vote OF the storthing
and the old ministry was compliment
ed by vote Of confidence.
This action placed the king in the
peculiar position OF having only q mi-
nority in the storthing and not being
In a position to accede to the wishes
of the majority without offending the
Swedish parliament, which had but
recently passed by an overwhelming
vote a resolution decli hing to permit
the establishment Of separate consul
lar service by Norway.
It was suggested at the time, In
view Of the complex condition Of af-
fairs, to refer the whole matter to q
commission to be named by the presi-
dents Of the United States, France and
Switzerland, and by the German en-
peror and king Of England.
This suggestion, however. although
not being adopted. took another form,
and in 1895 a commission was APP
pointed by the king to take up and
consider the subject with the object of
solving 1t. It's conclusion. however,
were not satisfactory and did nothing
toward the solution Of the trouble.
Yet there prevailed more Of a spirit OF
concession on each side and rupture
was averted.
The attempt Of the Radicals to
eliminate from the Norwegian flag
the emblem Of the union Of Sweden
and Norway is another incident Of the
temper of the people at that time.
The interests Of Europe In the Scan
peninsula brought to these
internal troubles the attention OF the
powers. The threatening Of the Swed-
ish government at Stockholm. where
German interests preponderate, was a
subject of anxiety to the triple alli-
ance; while Russian and French inter-
ests favored the dissolution Of the
union and the establishment Of
separate government at Christiania
which might be prepared to assist
France and Russia In preventing Swe-
den or Germany from closing the en-
trance to the Baltic thereby shutting
Off access to the Russian seaports In
the north. -
The election In 1894 brought many
surprises. The Liberals were forced to
ally themselves with socialist move
ment In order to control the situation.
AS the result, they lost many seats In
the storthing. especially In the rural
districts. where the farmers showed
their disgust at the alliance by voting
with the conservatives.
Owing to ill health on the part OF
King Oscar, the government was pro-
turned over to Prince Gus
tavus Adolphus in 1899. His early an
tagonism on the severance idea and
his public utterances advising military
coercion in Norway made him very
and on a visit to Christina
In March he was pelted with snowballs
by a mob. He was further insulted by
about go members Of the storthing,
who refused his invitation to dinner.
The situation cleared somewhat In
the latter part If 1899. when King Os-
car gave his sanction to the resolution
passed by the Norwegian storthing
abolishing the emblem Of the union
In the Norwegian national flag. This
was regarded as the most significant
and important step Norway had yet
taken toward a final severance of the
bonds which united her with Sweden.
FATE OF MEN WHO SHOT A Spy
while with the British army In South
Africa" said Major Barchard, an at
tache Of the British consulate, Il was