New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-05-28
THE SCANDINAVIAN CRISIS.

A grave crisis In Scandinavian affairs has fol
| lowed Immediately upon the Kings resump-
ton of his functions. The King, exercising his
prerogative to unusual extent has refused to
| sign a measure enacted by the Norwegian Par
lament, and in consequence the Norwegian Min
! istry has resigned. This is the latest and thus
! far most serious development in process that
! for some time has seemed to be making strongly
toward Scandinavian disunion. The overtures Of
the Crown Prince Regent to the Norwegians have
! failed of their desired effect, and the western
kingdom Is pursuing it's own way regardless of
its partner. The controversy between them, it
will be recalled, has of late chiefly turned upon
the question Of separate consular services, and,
seeing that one country is protectonist and the
other inclines toward free trade, the Norwegian
desire for such separate services seems not I'M
reasonable. Now, falling TO come to an agree
ment with Sweden upon the matter, the Nor
wegian government has sought to settle it for
itself by enacting the establishment begin
ming on April l, 1906, Of an independent Nor
wegian consular service, which is TO be under
the direction of a Norwegian government bu-
reau and in no wise subject. as is the present
consular service, to the Ministry for Foreign At
fairs which is common to both kingdoms See
ing how largely cOnsuls have TO do with politi-
cal and diplomatic matters, the significance of
this step is apparent 1t practically means that
Sweden and Norway will thereafter present not
a united, but divided front to the rest of the
world. If IN their foreign relations they are di-
vided, they can scarcely remain closely united
in domestic affairs. 1t is scarcely to be Won
dered al that King Oscar declines to approve so
revolutionary measure.
a few years ago Norway moved for a remak-
ing of the national flags TO obliterate from
them the symbol of the union. To this Sweden
would not assent, and the Swedish flag still re-
mains unaltered. But Norway did for herself
what she had suggested, and today her flag ex-
hibits TO sign of the union with Sweden. She
is now by legislative and administrative acts,
putting into practice what she then sought in
theory and in insignia. and it will take few more
steps TO complete the dissolution Of the union
that has existed since 1914. There IS no thought
that Sweden will try TO prevent it by force, and
even peaceful efforts to avert the rupture are
now being much relaxed as hopeless. 1t would
not be surprising. then, If in the near future
the union were dissolved, as Norway apparently
wishes and intends it 10 be- w hat then? It is
understood that Norway would seek to make,
in place Of the union, a defensive alliance with
Sweden 4nere are, however, grave reasons
for doubling whether Sweden would accept
such an arrangement. Many of her most rep
resentative and influential men are strongly OPP
posed TO it, and are demanding that Norway, If
she persists in severing the union, shall be left
TO her own devices, TO work out her own saliva
ton
1t Is pointed out that Norway, left to herself,
might soon become the object of Russian agrees
sion. Russia has long been trying 10 get in
some way access to the Atlantic through Fin
mark and Tromsoe, and if Norway were unsup-
ported by any other power Russia would have
no trouble in Selling those provinces especially
since Norway has neglected TO fortify them in
any way, expanding her military preparations
instead upon the Swedish frontier, as though
Sweden and not Russia were the possible foe TO
be feared. The extension of Russias boun-
diaries from the Varanger to the Ototen Fiord
might easily, therefore, be a prompt sequel TO
the dissolution OF the Scandinavian union.
Sweden might acquesce in il, upon the suppo-
sition that Russian expansion 10 Tromsoe would
lessen Russian pressure along the Tornea Elf
well IL might for time. 1t scarcely be
doubted that the separation OF Sweden and Nor
way would increase Russian activity In that d.
rection, and it must not be forgotten that the
Car nominally claims TO be the rightful lord OF
Sweden Norway and Denmark. That Is a
claim which will probably never be realized,
but any changes among the Scandinavian pow
ers which would give opportunity for even its