The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-09-14
ALL EYES FOCUS
ON KARLSTAD NOW
Agreement Between Sweden and
Norway May Be Reached
Tomorrow.
MEANWHILE TENSION
IS VERY GREAT
Rule of Secrecy Observed Has
Caused Wild Sensations to
Be Circulated.
Enecial Gable to The Journal.

Special Gable to The Journal.
Karlstad, Sweden, Sept. l4.-Agaln
all eyes in Scandinavia are focused on
this city, where the delegates Of the
two brother kingdoms are striving to set
tie their differences and find an annie
able modus vivendi-manner of living.
The moment is critical one and that
fact is understood by no one better than
by the delegates themselves. There
was brief tvo-hour session yesterday,
and then an adjournment until tomor-
row. Outwardlv the delegates are ON
the best of terms and treat each other
with the greatest courtesy. But under
che surface there is a decided tension.
Sentiment, Not Reason, Rules.
The difficulty of reaching an agree
ment apparently does not rest upon es-
sentials, but rather on matters of senti
ment. That is why an agreement seems
so difficult, If reason rather than feel
ing ruled, there would be no trouble at
all. The Norwegians are touched in a
tender spot by the demand for disarma-
ment of the Notifications and by the
Swedish assumption that the act of
June 7, terminating the union, was
illegal and void, and that the negotia-
lions must cover this point. The
Swedes are offended at the whole
course of Norway, and seek a salve for
ranged. They say: ''First, dissolve
the union legally, and under terms mu-
tually agreed upon. Then, settle the
relations of the two countries by an ar
bitration treaty. The Norwegians
say: "The union is dissolved. Now
let us agree on an arbitration treaty
which shall prevent all further friction
between the two peoples
AS for the forts, it is semi-officially
Jor;o1 tbot SJra5an socks the 6amO]j-
ton of the old, historic forts at Fred
Kristen and Kongsvinger, but does ask
for the disarmament of all the new
forts. It is asserted that Sweden $ in
tention are entirely pacific and that no
hostile military operations are under
way or even planned. ... ~. -
Purpose Of War Stories.
Or the other hand the Norwegians
deny absolutely the story printed IN
the Stockholm Dagblad that copscripts
from the second to the sixth year
classes have been summoned. They be-
lieve that all these stories Of mobiliza-
lions and other hostile moves are set
ahoat by the war party IN Stockholm
and embarrassing the peace party OF
Sweden, which dominates public senti
ment. On their way here, the Norwe'
gian delegates after passing the from
tier saw many bodies Of Swedish troops
coming up, apparently to re reinforce the
party in Stockholm has control Of the
war department and could easily ar
range such demonstration in order tc
irritate the Norwegians. without in the
least representing the real sentiments OF
the Swedish government.
Secrecy Makes Trouble.
Beyond question:, the policy, of absoo
lutte secrecy pursued by the delegates : is
the cause of much unnecessary public
excitement in both capitals. The most
sensational stories are printed in thu
newspapers to make up for the deartl
of real facts. These stories are cablee
to London, and thus reach the world
giving a wrong impression of the rea
Situation. While it is exceedingly diff
fcult to get at the inner facts. l fee
justified in saying that the situation
Is not nearly SO bellicose as it is repre-
sented to be.
The delegates spent the morning il
private conferences.