New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-10-22

the Sister Kingdoms, are to-day more united than
at any time in course Of the last hundred wears
The present union is no longer compulsory,
but purely voluntary on both SIDES based en-
tirely upon a community of interests and upon
realization of the necessity OF making common
cause against danger from without In the
treaty of Karlstad, by which the dissolution
OF the Act Of Union was brought about no
specific clause appears-at any rate in that part
OF the agreement given TO the public-whicn
binds the two nations to act together in the
presence Of any peril Of foreign invasion threat
ening either of them. But the entire tenor Of
the treaty, published, bears the impress OF
the existence of an understanding on the mart
Of both Sweden and Norway with regard to this
very matter and there is every reason to he
neve the report current in diplomatic circles to
the effect that there are some secret para graphs
covering just this point. with have been
pUrposely withheld from the people in order
10 avoid anything that might be construed in
the light Of an act OF hostility against the one
great power which, above all others consti-
tutes danger to the independence. of both king
doms- That great power is Russia. She is the
sole peril. From no other foreign government
have they anything TO fear. And that is wbv
the treaty Of Karlstad remains silent about the
arrangements which have been made with ,
view to foreign invasion, since these arrange
nents could be aimed only at Russia which
might easily find therein cause for offence.
That the danger is a real and present
one, far more than the general public for one
moment fmagines may be gathered from the
fact that for some weeks past the Gar who
officially describes himself among his titles as
Successor TO the Throne of Norway" has been
rapidly pouring troops into Finland beyond any
apparent requirement even of the admittedly
troubled state Of that province which borders,
as every one knows on Norway. Moreover, Rus
STA has remained ominously silent throughout
the latest phases of those differences between
Sweden and Norway. now happily settled by the
treaty Of acknowledgements which she did
much to promote. Indeed, for the last seventy
five years the efforts of Russian statecraft and
Of Auscovite diplomacy have been directed tow
ard the fostering Of trouble between the two
kingdoms, and no one can form any idea Of the
amount Of money which has been spent by the
Department of Foreign Affairs at st. Peters
burg in maintaining huge horde Of agents in
Norway whose one duty ii to promote Nor
wegian i'll will against Sweden. They insidious-
ly pointed out how much better off Norway
would be a republic under the protection and
suzerainty Of Russia than as a dependency
that is the way in which they put it-of Sweden.
and week after week newspapers printed St.
Petersburg with Russian money, were scattered
broadcast throughout Norway urging the people
10 rise against Swedish tyranny" and assuring
them Of the good viii and the friendship of the
Car. Quite series Of the articles of this kind
were signed by Bjornsen. the Norwegian poet
and author, who was resident at the time
the banks of the Neva, and whose statesman
ship and political sagacity were IN no sense
Commensurate with his patriotism and literary
genius. How much Importance Russia attached
10 fostering antagonism between Norway and
Sweden may be gathered from the fact that she
detached N. Zinovieff from his position at the
head Of the Asiatic division of the Foreign De-
partment at st. Petersburg, where he had in his
hands all the threads of Muscovite diplomacy
and intrigue all Asia, to take up the ap-
parently subordinate and Insignificant post of
Minister Plenipotentfary at Stockholm, whence.
Of course, he directed the operations Of all the
secret agents in Norway.
The unfortunate policy adopted by Russia
toward Finland since the accession Of the pres
ent Gar served, however. to open the eyes. If
not Of the bulk of the people, at any rate Of
the leading men Of Norway. to the value of
Muscovite pledges of autonomy to the nations
III advised enough TO accept her offers of pro-
lection and suzerainty- There is a large Nor
wegian and Swedish population in Finland, and
there is a good deal of maritime trade between
the grand duchy and Norway. The sympathies
Of the Norwegians and Swedes in Finland could
put be with the Firms in the latters
struggle TO retain that self-government which
had been so solenlnly promised TO them; and as
they made no secret of their sentiments they
came in for much Of the severity and oppres-
sion shown by the Muscovte authorities in the
grand duchy. This has contributed in no
small measure TO modify the views Of the Nor
wegians with regard TO Russia, which they have
learned TO fear quite much as do the
Swedes
More than ever is this fear justified at the
present juncture. Russia compelled 10 renounce
the hope Of naval, military and political as
tendency in the Far Fast, and to abandon. Tor
probably half q century to come every eXpecta-
ton she has had of securing an icefree port
On the Pacific for her trade and commerce. Will
row be forced. whether she likes it or not
to seek an outlet to the ocean elsewhere.
through the Persian Gulf, through the Bos-
porps or through one Of the Norwegian mar
bors on the Atlantic. The treaty between Eng
land and Japan virtually bars Russia's way TO
The Persian Gulf. while ii is hopeless TO expect
that the clauses Of the Black Sea treaty closing
The Dardanelles 10 ships Of war will ever Dc
abTogated, save in the altogether inconcelVaOIe
eycntuaiity Of a Aiuscovite victory over an
armed coalition Of majority Of European
powers. The energies of colossal nation must
inevitably follow the line OF least resistance
and il is certain that that line is In the ulte0-
ton of the Atlantic and that If the RUSSIAN
leyiathan IS forced TO seek a breathing hoie-'
window upon the outer world and an access 10
the open seat VIII be nowhere but OF inc
northern coast OF Norway.
Russia has On several occasions In the
nineteenth century been the point of inVa"-
ing Norway. When Gar Alexander l acquireu
the grand duchy of Finland. he found that i
was bound by treaty, some five hundred