The San Francisco call., 1905-06-22
OSCAR YIELDS
DUAL THRONE
King of Sweden Advises
the Riksdag to Permit
Dissolution of the Union
MAKES FEELING SPEECH
Government Asks for Au-
thority to Effect Peaceful
Settlement With Norway

STOCKHOLM. Sweden, June 2.-The
extraordinary session Of the Riksdag.
summoned by King Oscar to deal with
the momentous question raised by Nor
ways declaration dissolving the union,
met for business to-day. The Govern
ment Immediately introduced bill ask
tions with the Norwegian Storthing and
draw up a conditional settlement of the
questions involved in the separation Of
the heretofore dual kingdom.
The session was opened by King Oscar
In person, with the usual ceremonial.
The members of the royal family and
the members Of both houses, having pre-
viously attended divine service in the
royal chapel. assembled in the immense
state hall of the Parliament building.
The Princess and the ladies Of the court.
who wore evening dresses, with jewels.
occupied the gallery on the left and the
diplomatists, wearing court uniforms.
were seated in the right hand gallery.
while the spaces open to the public were
filled with people.
King Oscar, arrayed in the royal robes
Of purple and ermine, with the crown
on his head and the scepter in his hand; |;
the Princes, in their robes of erfnine and
blue and with their coronets on. and the
high court functionaries, in full uniform
with their ribbons and stars. marched
In procession into the hail. while the
national anthem was played.
The King seated himself on the throne.
a massive high-seated structure of solid
silver raised on high dais. There, sur
rounded by the Princes and function
aries, his Majestys commanding figure
and white hair. under the glittering
crown, his gray beard and f1ne-cut fea
lures, wearing an expression of gravity,
attracted the sympathy Of the whole
concourse. The State Marshal, having
taken the Kings orders, gave a signal,
the audience arose and the King, in a
clear, sonorous voice, which was heard
throughout the hall, read his speech. He
said:
1t is a painful step which the Council of
State calls me to take. My conscience
tells me that L have during my long reign
always stryen toward the object l had in
mind at the time of my accession, namely.
the welfare of the brother peoples. 1t is truly
painful to me to contribute the dissolution
of a union in which / thought / the in
unttaS rpnp ktnedon u If nowever apPr am ready to
act thus it is in order to avoid a still worse
evil and in the conviction that union without
to Sweden
have acted in accordance with my con-
science and always in conformity with the
constitution and with the desire to work con-
scientionsly for the true welfare OF the peo-
pies. The bill presented to the Riksdag does
not aim at replying to Injustice by acts OF
coercion. The union is not worth the sacrifices
which acts of coercion would entail. union
into which Norway would be forced In such
a manner would be Of little value to Sweden.
The King concluded with expressing
the hope that the Swedish people would
be guided by calmness and prudence and
that Gcd would give them strength and
unity to regain within their own from
tiers what they had lost by the dissolu-
ton of the union.
His Majesty showed marked emotion
when he referred to the recent events in
Norway and affirmed that his action was
dictated by regard for the true welfare
of the two countries. His speech was
heard in. tense silence and there were
tears in many eyes.
When the King had concluded the
presidents of the chambers stepped for
ward and conveyed to him assurances Of
the devotion of the chambers.