The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-02-09
KING OSCAR RETIRES.
Names Prince Gustaf Regent Untn Further
Notice.
spsetal cable Despatch 10 THE Sun.

Special Gable Dtspeieh 10 THE SuN,
STOCKHOLM. Feb. s.--King Oscar II OF
Sweden and Norway has made Crown
Prince Gustaf regent until further notice.
The reason given for this step is the King
illness.
1t il announced this evening that King
Oscar is suffering from no specific disorder.
but he ia not robust enough TO continue
in charge Of State affairs in view of the re-
curing troubles between Sweden and
Norway in connection with the consular
question.
Prof Hagenip. the Prime Minister, adj
dressing the Storthing at Chrstiania said
he regretted that the negotiations between
Sweden and Norway on this question had
failed The situation he added, was very
serious The present conditions could not
be continued without eudangering the re
ations between the two countries.
Norway must therefore make provision
for taking up the national ami iuterna-
tional position to which she il entitled
"a a sovereign State If this could not be
achieved within the terms Of the existing
treaty Of union new forms for the coopera-
ton OF the nations must be considered
The Government was prepared TO resign
would help toward settlement.
Oscar IL has been called the ablest ruler
Of the nineteenth century and the most
democratic king that ever lived A.
referee in international arbtYations he
has had an Importance in world politics
out Of all proportion TO the rank Of his king
dom. At home owing TO the peculiar
constitution OF the dual kingdom, he has
had position which called for the highest
quality of tact and diplomacy, and he has
pulled Sweden and Norway through dozen
threatened storms
Bernadotte. who rose from q country
notary's office to be a Marsha Of France
accepted the crown of Sweden early in the
last century Oscar H. Is his grandson.
He was born seventysix years ago and
was not educated to rule, as he had two
older brothers. he spent his youth and
early manhood in travel and in cultivating
his taste for poetry and literature, The
death Of his hAthcns brought him 10 the
throne in 1872.
He found the Government feudal oil
garchy and leaves II one of the freest mon
archicl states in Europe.
Oscar is a Viking in appearance-G feet
inches tall powerful and handsome NcNt
to his books and his music, he has taken
most delight in travelling about among
his people in a supposed incognito. II
is said that everyone knew who he was
when he took those trips but it was eti-
ouette not to seem to know He has al
ways been popular, both at homo and
abroad.
Prince Gtlstaf has been temporary re-
gent twice since 1900. during periods when
the King was dangerously sick His
mother was Princess Sophia Of Nassau.
and he il one Of -Four sons. The second
son. Oscar. lost his right Of succession by
marrying Ebba Munk, a commoner. Gus
tat IL married 10 a descendant OF the old
Swedish dynasty which the Bernadottes
replaced so that by this succession tho
ancient house OF the Vasas returns to the
throne.
Although Gustaf has hardly shown his
hand as yet it is thorVlt that h is less
liberal than his father, In 1901. Oscar granted
the Liberal demands which Gustaf opposed.