Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1905-06-26
THE COAST timber NORWAY ANDSWEDEN
The DIVISION NOT A RADICAL OR
DYNASTIC QUARREL.
Largely a Business Affair, From a
Political Standpoint. The Seeming
Contempt of Norway for Sweden
iSNOt Real, for Both People Respect
Each Other.

iSNOt Real, for Both People Re SpeCt
Each Other.
James Creelmau, writing for the New
York World concerning the diffe. ences
between Norway and Sweden, says that
the separation "saows that the two old
Scandinavian countries are irrevocably
divided ON economic rather than political
issues. 1t is the worldwide struggle be
tween protection and free trade worked
out on local lines to it's logical result" :"
Nh. Creelman explains: at is true that
the hardy, democratic, seataring Nor.
weg'ans affect contempt for the Swedes
as title loving, sordid, servile and lux.
urous people. But the substance OF the
quarrel between the parliaments of Nor.
way and Sweden relates to the CONNER.
cial interests involved in the conduct of
foreign relations by the king. The two
peoples are OF Teutonic origin, blond.
tall. muscular, and devoted to the Chris
tian religion, which was forced upon
them by the sword. So like are they in
personal appearance and habits that
most foreigners find it difficult to dis
tingulsh them as separate nations or to
understand why a Norwegian becomes
angry when he is mistaken for Swede.
But the Norwegians are crowded along
the coasts of their country. They have
little agriculture or manufacture. They
look to the com nerce of the sea. They
are sailors and salt water traders. They
want open ports everywhere. Both SEN
timent and necessity confirm them as
free traders On the other hand, the
Swedes, more numerous people, living
in more fertile territory. have developed
large industrial and agricultural inter-
ests and are strong supporters Of patri.
otic tariff"
During the Napoleonic wars Norway
was part OF the kingdom of Denmark.
Mr.. Creelman says; "The Danish king
sided with Napoleon; SO, in 1914, the
allies, under the leadership Of Great
Britain, punished Denmark by com.
pelling her to cede Norway to Sweden,
which was then virtually ruled by Berna-
do:te, the great field marshal, who had
been chosen by the Swedes as heir to
their throne. Charles XIII. being child
less. Four years after the union Of Nor
way and Sweden, Bernadotte. the sol.
dier, once dreaded rival of Napolean
in France. mounted the Swedish.Nor.
wegan throne as Charles XIV. The
present king, Oscar II. is a grandson of
Bernadotte. According to the terms of
the union effected in 1914, the two king
doms were to retain their separate sys-
tens, with separate parliaments and
separate ministries. But the minister
of foreign affairs was to be Swede, and
the control Of foreign relations was to be
in the keeping of the king. Under a
masterful ruler like Bernadotte the an
tagonisms Of Norway and Sweden were
kept in allegiance, and the Scandinavian
peninsula made great progress. But
since that time the separate policies of
the kingdoms have been growing more
distinct. and the Nor rwegians have again
and again demanded a separate minister
Of foreign affairs and separate consular
SERVICE"
The venerable King Oscar, now in his
seventy fifth year is referred to by Mr..
Creelman as "a scholar and philosopher.
a man OF gentle and meditative tempera.
ment." Mr.. Creelman adds: "He is
not the sort Of monarch to compose a
dispute among his subjects by military
force. The mild protest which he sent
to the Norwegian parliament when its
members declared Norway to be indie.
pendent of his rule was characteristic.
Age and i'll health compelled King Oscar
to place regent on the throne for some
time. But the increasing demands Of
Norway for separate consular system,
accompanied by threats of secession,
compelled the white-haired, feeble king
to return to his duties. The Norwegian
parliament passed law providing for
separate consuls. Two days after his
resumption OF power the king vetoed the
law. Norway asked the king to with
draw his veto. The king refused. The
Norwegian council Of state issued q de-.
cree putting Swedish war vessels on a
footing with foreign war vessels in Nor
wegian ports. There were signs that
Norwegian troops were being prepared to
support separate policy. The leaders
of the two great political parties in Nor.
way agreed that if the king persisted in
denying to Norway the right to be repre-
sented abroad by counsuls Of her own
choosing the separation of the two king
doms was inevitable. Yet there was
little talk Of war. The controversy was