The Mercur miner. [volume] (Mercur, Utah) 1895-1913, 1905-08-19
The Union Between
Sweden and Norway (
From 1914 to 1905 !
IAN Historical Synopsis by Carl
Sundbeck.')


The union Of Norway and Sweden does
not date from the latter part Of the year
1914 as claimed In DR. Nansen's article
Every schoolboy in both countries knows
that Norway was ceded to Sweden by
ssnsS az thrgugR Jan 'ne say g yer peace sS
cyclopedia probably so states. The fact
II that Sweden made the acquisition OF
Norway condition precedent to taking
part In the war OF the allies against Ma,
poleon through Charles John, then crown
prince of Sweden. From the Swedish
point of view this was to be the compen-
sation for the loss of Finland. which had
been surrendered to Russia after the wars
Of 1908 and 1909. Russia had become the
ally Of Sweden against Norway. and this
explains why the car OF that time, Alex
ander /. was always a strong advocate
OF transforming Norway from a Danish
into swedish dominion.
After campaign of month Denmark
was forced to cede Norway to Sweden.
Dec. 10, 1913. The truce which began on
that date was prolonged and resulted in
the treaty OF Jan IL, 1914. Norway,
which up to that time had formed
part OF the Danish realm, by
'Dr. Carl sundbeck. writer of this ar
ticle published in English In The Chicago
Sonsiderable repute In Sweden: He was
born May !, 1865. ami studied IN the uni
yersities OF upsala, Christiania Heidel-
berg and Zurich. The Patriotic Stu
dents Union" was organized by him and
he became Its first president. He Travelled
extensively In Southeastern Europe. took
greece and then came to the United
States to study the condition of his coun-
trymen in this country and Canada His
expenses were partly paid bv the Swed-
ism government and on his return he pub
iished book giving the results Of his ex-
the terms of this treaty became consti-
tutionally Swedish possession, and Swe-
1en IN exchange surrendered her German
province Pomerania to Denmark
Norway was a vassal state under Den
mark from 1919 until 1869. The Danish
KING assumed autocraCy in 1850 and IN
consequence OF this Norway was consti-
tuuonally transformed from u Vassal state
10 part OF the Danish Norwegian realm.
rms was the position OF Norway In 1914,
and the king OF Denmark had the consti-
tutional right TO cede Norway wnen.
through the fortunes OF war, lac was
forced to do So
When the Swedish armies returned To
continue the war against Napoleon the
Norw egians seized the opportunity to rebel
against Sweden. They oven went SO far
as to declare themselves independent and
elected as their own king the former
Danish governor. Prince Christian Fred
erick. This occurred May H. 1874 On
the same day they adopted constitution
OF their own Neither the king nor the
constitution obtained recognition. On TIE
contrary there arrived in Christiania on
June 30 of the same year delegates from
Austria Russia. England and Prussia.
who announced the decision OF their re
spective governments that Norway 1uEnt
to be united with Sweden in conformity
with the treaty OF peace at kiel. The
NorwCgians, however, held TO their plan
OF separation ON July 30 Swedish troops
were sent into Norway and Aug. the
way to Christiania was laid open To them
by the surrender of Fredriksstad. This
was reported to Prince Frederick ny IN.
Norwegian commanders and on Aug: II
hostilities ceased and the treaty OF MOSS
was agreed to. The Swedish king rom
ised the Norwesians that ,hsy , sho snS,, "a
ments made necessary by the Union oil
Norway with Sweden.
Matters In Norway had to be arranged
in conformity with the new situation. but
IL is self-evident that no one In sweden
at this time. In view OF the course on
which Norway had been ceded to Sweder
had ceased to be valid. on the contrary
Il was held 10 have been affirmed IN,
Norwegians maintained, however thal
their country as an independent state hac
entered into a voluntary union win SWe'
den. In order "a avoid another appea
TO arms and to have peace restored De
fore the impending congress IN vienna
various vague expressions were useh u
speaking OF the relations between the t"'
countries.
The swedes would not consent to cal
Charles XIII. the king OF Sweden. as by
the treaty OF KEEL he was rlghtIuliy emu
tied to be called the king OF sweden an,
Norway, and the Norwegians refused e
call him by the latter TIE. The diIIleuitN
was adjusted by oniittSg the names %
the countries and simply calling him 'th'
king" A number of other matters WeI'
settled In the same way, and because o
the loose eNpftsSlOnS AuhDAtu
nretatIon OF the union has been matter
OF dispute for nearly century Ih0usl
originally adopted by the Swedes III
spirit of Cancellation, these vague terin
M Vc been maac the preteNt bN the nor
wegians for asking further concession
That Norway In entering the unioi
could not be regarded as AN Independent
state and equal To Sweden In evident iron
maiIy entered into Nov. 4. 1874. after IN,
Norwegians had elected Charles XIII
their king, although the swedes had DE
manded that they should also ''acknowl
edge" him In accordance with the treat,
of KEEL IL was finally agreed that th'
words elected aud acknowledged shoul'
be used The title OF king of Sweden an,
Norway had, however, been used by
Charles XIII from the time OF the procia
nation OF Jan. %. 1914.
The original contract OF union is en-
bodied In the constitutional law Of Nor
way adopted at the beginning OF 1871
when IL was attempted TO make that coun
TRY a sovereign state with such changes
in the document as were made necessarl
by the union Paragraphs lnconslsten
thus the constitution OF Norway speak
most eloquently whore II Is silent. ON
of the sections stricken out was tina
numbered s3, relating to the department
and minister OF foreign affairs. II wa
sslf-eyident that SmedeT must mi, hay'
distinctly expressed In the "riksakt.
which IL the second union document.
In paragraph seven OF this constitution
iv law il Is stated that diplomats matter
are presented by the court chancellor, b!
which title the Swedish cabinet ministe
for foreign affairs was known at tina
time According 10 Mr., Aschehough, pro
lessor OF constitutional law. II was un
derstood that the consuls should repre-
sent the two countries Jointly, though
nothing was said about II In the "rlk
sakt" But even this silence Is signih
cant.
IL would be tedious to wade through
the records relating 10 the history OF tn
Swedish Norwegian union tt.m t@lI u
IN the present time. Its most remarkabl
features are the numerous concession
made by Sweden and the fresh demand
constantly made by the Norwegians. som
of these demands have been OF pueril
kind, suggesting the idea OF quarrelinl
for It's own sake.
During the Danish period Norwegian
vessels cnrried the Danish flag For
long time after 1914 their naval emblem
was similar TO the Swedish flag then
special flag WAS adopted showing an en-
blem OF the union with Sweden and final
iy one without the emblem. Vice sover
eighty and gOvernorship have not bee
exercised by the Swedes The royal till
in Norwegian documents has bee
changed 30 as To give the name OF Nor
way precedence. According TO the roy7
decree 81 1855 members or the Norwegian
privy council are permitted "a be presen
Al the discussion OF diplomatic affair'
Tho alteration In the constitutional lay
a 1885, which Nansen calls "A coup.