The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-07-28
BREAK TRACED TO
SWEDISH POLITICS

SWEDISH POLITICS
Continued from First Page.
rational way, namely, by granting jus,
that the foreign minister be made ac-
countable to both riksdag and storthing
and that he be either a Swede or a
Norwegian, instead of always Swede.
The objection was at once made that
and awkward, and that it could never
be made. to work.
Hedin then proposed that a joint
council of state be formed, with equal
from the diet of each
kingdom and that the foreign minister
be accountable to that council This
statesman-like proposal ha dthe support
of the liberal party, but the conserva-
tives were in power and they declined
to follow the path pointed out.
Hedin Plan as Platform.
Ten years later the Hedin plan had
become the platform OF the conserva-
tives-but it was then too late. Nor
way. had then got to the point where
such an arrangement would not satisfy
t the dominant II party: Separation had
pose Of the Norwegian liberals, while
their conservative opponents, tho
ready to negotiate with. Sweden. were
by no means lacking in patriotism.
Sweden had permitted the psychological
moment for a resolution of the new
problems Of the union to pass. It had
failed to recognize the fact that con-
stitution is not affixed and rigid thing,
but that it must grow with the growth
of the nation. The repression of Nor
way had awakened new ambitions and
made new problems. The conservative
party of Sweden was thus Just ten years
behind its opportunity.
Rise of lingo Party.
The pendulum now swung over to the
other extreme. There arose a lingo
party in Sweden which acted thru the
conservatives. "Let us march upon
Christiania at once" they said. "Let
us take the capital of Norway and bring
these proud people to our feet. We
shall then settle all these questions as
we like and without trouble Gustaf.
the crown prince, was then younger
then he is now. His blood awas hot and
this chauvinist program appealed to
him. as a fine thing. It would be easy
to conquer Norway, which had no army
or navy or defenses worth speaking Of
Gustaf was under the influence of a
reactionary Upsala university professor,
who was in the riksdag. Oscar Ahlin.
And as old King Oscar, it was well
known, would never consent to such a
that he a abdicate in Gustaf f ''G favor.
This amazing plan was very near being
carried out. It is not generally realized
how close to war and all it's horrors
Sweden and Norway were in 1895. The
one thing that prevented it was the fact
that the chauvinist element was not
able to keep the conservative party
united. There was a hard-headed old
peasant leader in the lower house. A. P.
Danielson- who has since died He led
the revolt III his own party against war
with Norway.
Peasant Leader Spoke.
"What will it profit us.'' he said,
amotbsr We Sha only ahg
a far worse one than the Ireland that
curses British politics. Norway will be
a province and will send a delegation to
the riksdag that will keep us in con-
tinual hot water We would shed much
blood and spend much money and only
sow seeds of dissension and everlasting
trouble in Scandinavia. - Z
And 50 war was averted and new ne
gotiations for an understanding were
set on nj fo Ct joint commission was
f eo aet eauh ths
sion found itself utterly unable to
agree. Nor did the two delegations
agree among themselves and the upshot
was that there were two reports to the
storthing, the majority report being lib
eral and the minority conservative,
vuh 10 ho Srro q
| majority moderate report and minor
| ity conservative report. So nothing
was done, altho there was the best Of
feeling between the two countries.
Concessions Promised.
conservatives secured from the Swedish
foreign minister, Mr.. Lagerheim. Ger.
tain promises of concessions in case of
negotiations. These promises were not
submitted to the riksdag, but Mr.. Lager.
helm attempted to carry thru the nego.
tiation himself. Armed with these
promises the Norwegian conservatives
made a strong campaign and won a
great victory. They contended that
in their methods, that they were I'm.
diplomatic. Everyone now expected
that the brother peoples would come tc
| an understanding and that peace would
| reign. Not for many years had Sc
/ friendly a feeling existed in Norway
toward Sweden as then. IF, happily
! Sweden had only had a real Statesman
] like Hedin at the head Of her affairs
the course of history would have beer
different: But Premier Bostrom had ne
notion Of carrying, out in liberal spirit
the. promises to the Norwegian conser
1 vatives. When they came to negotiate
they found him full Of impossible con
/ ditions for the organization of Nor
wegian consular service and eventual,
went home, Disguised, indignant AM
sore Bostrom had thus alienated hi
natural friends in Norway and hat
4 tional party. apparently demanding
1 separate consular service, but reall,
moving toward actual separation.
4 The act Of June z followed and th
crisis now confronted the two king
doms, with all it's terrifying POSSIBLE
ties.
KILLED BY ATHLETICS
\ Nn1nr,ohio T1rn dro%a rNjoc - vYsoxs... :.