The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-07-21
FAVORS ALLIANCE,
But NOT BY FORCE
Kronlund, One of the Leaders in
the Riksdag, Pleads for
Union.
LAYS SWEDEN MUST
BE FIRM TO NORWAY
Declares Riksdag Will Reach De-
cision-No Deadlock Pos
sible, He Says.

cision-No Deadlock Pos
sible, He Says.
BY w. 3. Chamberlain.
Copyright, 1905, by The Minneapolis Journal.
Stockholm, Sweden, July 3.-In the
mellow afterglow of the long summer
night of these high ATTITUDES, sat last
night with Judge George kronlund OF
of the lower house of the riksdag and
talked of the crisis that now hangs
over the Scandinavian peninsula with
such a menace of disaster to the brother
peoples. It was on a bench in q Sc
cluded corner of Skansen, where we
should be free from the danger of lis
teners, that the representative from
Norrbotten had consented to meet me.
Skansen, you know. is a great outdoor
museum in which are preserved the
relics of ancient Swedish and Lapland
civilization. It covers many acres on
a noble tableland overlooking the city,
and is q >favorite resort. Bu@its many
winding walks and seats afford seclu-
sion for those who seek it.
Judge Kronlund is from the northern
MOST district of Sweden and made a
notable speech in the riksdag last
"Wednesday on the union crisis. It was
o temperate, well-considered presenta-
ton of the question and suggested the
guarantees which he believes indispensa-
tion of the difficulty. As there are
among his constituents some 10000 Fin
nish-speaking Lapps, poverty STRIFE ken
and without resources Of any kind, it
was natural that he should urge some
provisions looking to their welfare. In
iced, his heart and svmpathies are deep
,,.l III
folk and he is determined to see that
they are taken care of in the settlement.
In another letter I shall endeavor to
give you some idea of the woes and
hopes of these Lapps, as described by
Judge Kronlund, but Just now / want to
give you his views on the crisis.
Resembles John Lind.
Judge Kronlund is a man Of spare
build, with a thin but expressive face,
resembling in general appearance some
what our own John Lind, He is not at
all like the typical Well-fed, ruddy-
checked ;Stockholmer. He is a. man of
abstemious habit and serious mind, and
the present unfortunate tension be-
tween Sweden and Norway seems to
give him the deepest concern. At the
outset he declared-as all the Swedes
do-that the dissolution Of the union
accomplished fact which can never be
undone. A renewal Of the union be
tween the countries he considers abso
lutely impossible. He added with great
emphasis: -. ,
stThe Swedes ought never to think
for g. moment of trying to rebuild the
union by force. Such union would bt
worthless and impermanent. Yet thu
old union has been beneficial in many
ways to both countries. 1t has been {
guaranty Of peace that has entirely OBJ
waited the necessity Of maintaining ex
pensive military and naval establish
ments. The commercial relations of tn.
two countries were, also, much more ad
vantageous than they would have beer
But the greatest benefit of the unio1
was that It gave us strength against for
eign powers and made certain the in
volatility Of the Scandinavian PENN
sula No designing, land-hungry powe
could get any foothold or special priv
ilege in one country without the con
sent of the other.'
"But does the dissolution Of the III
ion,' I asked, necessarily mean tn
abandonment Of all It's advantages9'
Hopes for Alliance.
"By no means.' was the repl,
far as possible by the agreement int
which the two countries must now e1
ter. In the present temper of the No
wegians, I do not think strong d.
fensive alliance is possible, but we {
Sweden hope that the Norwegians wi
be sensible enough to see that thes
things are as much for their benefit
for ours.''
edo you think the Norwegians al
actua11v hostile TO Sweden ~ s-s
II fear that is their temper at pre-
ent: At least a t, they are giving outwa'
t'In what way?'
"Well, take the matter Of fortific
lions. They have spent in the neig
0O0) in building Notifications along tt
boundary between Norway and Sw
den. Instead of fortifying again
Russia or England or Germany, in OF
of which quarters the real danger,
= any, lies, they have menaced the Sw
dish border. Think Of a country who
finances are in such precarious conc
money with which to threaten broth
people bound to it by the closest ct
hic, commercial and political ties!'
elbow did Norway obtain the mon
with which to do this9'
Loan to Norway.
ga loan Of 100000 kroner Il
100000 was negotiated last autur
thru the Credit Lyonnaise Of Fran,
A Jewish banker of Stockholm nam
Vallenherg was unpatriotic enough
give his assistance in the transactit
Thirty millions were advanced at on
under the guise Of a loan with which
build railroads. In reality. however,
was intended for Notifications and "
so expended. The remaining FORTY n
lions are retained by the Credit Lvt
naise until Norway has a recogniz
government to receipt for Them"
This highly interesting informati
I find. has received little publicity he
especially so far as concerns the p;
Mr.. Vallenberg, who is perhaps
leading banker /of Stockholm. is So
to have played in the affair. It is, he
ever, known and much talked about
the inner circles of the riksdag.
asked Judge Kronlund what Swedel
attitude would be in relation to thu
Notifications.
"Sweden will INSIST he repli
Ftnot only that the forts be dismantl
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