Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1905-06-21
Scandals CRISIS
AND ITS CAUSES
EVENTS LEADING UP TO OIsso.
LUTON OF THE UNION.
TROUBLES NOT RECENT
Norweeians Demand Separate Con-
sular System but King vetoes
Proposition-They Also Are For
Free Trade While swedes Want
Protection.


the formal disruption of the union be-
tween Norway and Sweden had their
beginning fifty years ago, when Nor.
wegian agitation for a separate con.
sular system began. The agitation
however, did not become serious lin.
til 1890, when the government OF
Norway took the first steps TOWARD
securing an Independent system.
AS the agitation grew the demands
included separate minister Of foreign
affairs, and finally there grew up in
Norway a sentiment for a total dis
solution of the union entered into in
1914, when Norway, then a Danish
possession. was ceded to Sweden BY
the defeated Danish king.
The Swedes always have maintain
ed that in giving Norway a constitu.
ton and separate government under
the circumstances they were extreme.
ly liberal
One Of the causes for the desire for
separate consular systems was the
fact that Sweden is protectionist and
Norway is for free trade, and also be
cause of Norway's more extensive sea
trade and other Emergencies of com,
mercl2l interests.
Since the union with Sweden the
Swedish minister of foreign affairs
has acted on behalf of the two coun-
tries. Al first Norway raised no OBJ
lection to this; indeed, the circum.
stance developed naturally, for Nor,
ways foreign relations were of the
smallest and most unimportant kind.
But apart from the fact that the king
of Sweden was also the King
of Norway, there was not any other
bond worth speaking of between the
two countries but this of one foreign
minister acting on behalf of both.
AS time went on Norway became
dissatisfied with this arrangement.
The Norwegians declare that Norway
has never been properly considered in
diplomatic affairs, and the Swedes re.
tort that the Norwegian view has been
altogether too restricted. and that il
never has taken into consideration
the best interests OF the two countries
| together.
The elections of 1894 left conserva.
tiyes and radicals in the Norwegian
storthing almost equal in strength.
the latter having only a small
majority of foaE, and this enabled
King Oscar whe all along had shown
tirmness aad tact, to take up a more
determined &ttitude. The embittered
feelings between The two countries
naturally remained in full force, but
late in 1895 the Swedish and Nor
wegian governments arranged for a
union committee of fourteen-each
government nominating seven mem,
bers-to consider the whole question
at issue. 1t was hoped that this com.
mittee would succeed in coming to a
decision which would be generally ac-
ceptable, and the political tension
was relieved considerably.
1t was not until March, 1898, that
the committee brought its delibera
tons to a close and made it's report.
This report was extremely disappoint,
ing, for the members had ranged
themselves into foL- antagonistic
groups. each advocating different
views. Once more, THEREFORE, were
Norway and Sweden plunged into
political turmoil. A radical govern.
ment had come into power in Norway.
and so extremely hostile was their at,
titude that they decided that the mark
of the union should be removed from
the Norwegian flag, a resolution which
eXasperated every section of the
Swedish nation THIS circumstance
brought about the complete estrange-
ment of the two peoples. There then
began talk of war, though this mostly
on the Norwegian side, and mutuai
hatred and distrust became deeper
and deeper
But the advocates of Cancellation
were not idle, and they worked to
such good effect that two years ago it
appeared that a satisfactory arrange
ment had at last been arrived at, for
a joint committee appointed by thu
two governments had settled in prin'
ciple how the division of the consular
service should be effected without the
question being brought into connec-
ton with that of the settlement or
the diplomacy and the foreign minis
ters of the two kingdoms. But when
the time came for Sweden to carry
out the recommendations of the com
mittee Sweden raised the claim that
the Norwegian consuls should be I'M