The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-06-22
SWEDEN WILLING
 ID SETTLE MATTER
RIksdags Opened by King Oscar
 With Pomp
AROUSED MUCH SYMPATHY
Aqed Ruler Read Ills Speech From Throne and Dlseaimed Any thing but Interest for Nor.
 ways Welfare.

Stockholm, June 2l.-rhe extraordinary session of the Riksdag summoned by King oscar to deal with the momentus question raised by Norway's declaration dissolving the union, met for business this morning.
 As forcasted by the Associated Press yesterday afternoon, the government im- mediatey introduced a bill asking for au- thorization to enter into negotiations with the Norwegian Storthing and draw up conditional settlement of the questions involved in the separation of the hereto l fore dual kingdom.
 The session was opend by King Oscar in person with the usual ceremonial. The members of the royal family and the members of both houses having pre- yiously attended divine service in the roy al chapel assembled in the immense state hall of the Parliament building. The Queen. the Princesses and the ladies of the court who wore evening dresses with jewels occupied gallery on the left and the diplomatists wearing uniforms were seated in the right hand gallery while the spaces open to the public were filled with people.
 Arra.ed In the Royal Robes.
 King Oscar, arrayed in the royal robes of purple and ermine with the crown on his head and the sceptre in his hand, the princes in their robes of ermine and blue and with their coronets on, and , the high court functionaries in full uni form marched in procession into the hall while the national anthem was played. ba al m ha massive high seated structure of solid silver raised on a high dais. There, sur rounded by the Princes and the high functionaries his maiesty's commanding figure and white hair under the glitter ing crown, his gray beard and finely cut features, wearing an expression of great gravity attracted the sympathy of the whole concourse.
 The state marshal, having taken the Kings orders, gave signal, the audience rose, and the King in clear, sonorous voice which was heard throughout the hall read his speech.
 Ills majesty protested against the charge that by a violation of the con stitutlon he had provoked the steps taken by Norway.
 q have acted" he said, "in accordance with my conscience and always with con- formity to the constitution and with the desire to work conscientiously for the welfare of the two peoples. The bill pre- scented to the Riksdag does not aim at replying to injustice by acts of coercion. The union is not worth the sacrifice which acts of coercion would entail. An union in which Norway would be forced in such a manner would be of little value to Sweden"
 hope that the Swedish people would be guided by calmness and produce and that God would give them strength and unity to regain within their own frontiers what they had lost by the dissolution of the union,
 Recommend Peaceable Settlement.
 At the meeting yesterday of the coun- cil of state which sanctioned the introduce ton of the bill in the Riksdag dealing with the dissolution crisis both the King and the Premier were on the side of a pacific settlement.
 Premier Ramstedt spoke first. pointing out that 1t was not to Swendens interest to resort to coerciye measures. He recom- mended, therefore, entering into negotia- tions for convention by which guarantees should be obtained conducive to the mutual welfare of the two countries In any case he declared negotiations were indispensable to definitely clear up the situation.
 lhe ifftnltT bubBhStcu iudt utleBdleS pc appointed to this end. and 1t was only after such a conditional settlement and after the Rksdag had fully considered the matter that Sweden would be in a position to decide as to her defintive ap- proval of the dissolution and agree to an- nualling the act of union.
 After several members had acquiesced in the Premier's views King Oscar with visible emotion, spoke as follows:
 Tt is painful step which the council Of state calls on me to take. My con- science tells me that I have during my long reign alway strven toward the ob- jeot had in mind at the time of my &C., cesslon, namely the welfare of the brother peoples. It Is truly painful to me to con tribute to the dissolution of a union In which I sought the independence, security and happiness of the united kingdoms If however, l am ready to act thus. 1t is In order to avoid a still worse evil and In the conviction that the union without mutual accord would bring no real advantage to SWedenn