The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-07-07

using the words elected and acknowl-
edged. The riksakt, or second union
document, was silent as to the matter
of consular service, but stated that the
court chancellor, as the Swedish minis
ter for foreign affairs was then known,
should have charge Of diplomatic mat
ters.
When under Danish rule Norwegian
vessels carried the Danish flag After
1914 for a long time their naval en-
blem was similar to the Swedish flag.
ing an emblem Of the union with
Sweden :, and . finally one without the en-
m M Is the royal title has been changed
precedence. According to the royal
decree Of 1885 members of the Nor
weglan privy council are permitted to
be present at the discussion of diplo-
matte affairs. The alteration in the con
stitutional law Of 1885, which Nansen
calls. "coup, changed nothing, in
the foreign department Of. the Swedish
government. It merely formulated the
fact that foreign affairs were in charge
Of Swedish minister, as already de-
clared by the "riksakt'' of 1915.
OF the joint consuls seventeen are
Norwegians and ten Swedes. There is
no instance on record of a Swedish
consul having neglected the rights Of
Norway, but it has happened that Nor
censure of swedes. No formal COM
plants have been made, tho they have
beer, published in the newspapers.
Sweden has assumed the defense of
both countries, while Norway since
1885, has exempted So per cent Of her
small army from joint defense service
The Norwegians have. built fortresses
q CrQ1 Inc 10 l.
against Sweden.'
pr. Sundbeck dwells on the offer Of
entire equality made by the crown
prince recently, and refused, and de-
clares that this means Norway desires
to take the lead in the union or dis
rupt it. :" The American colonies re-
VOTED on account of taxation, but Nor
way has never paid any taxes to
Sweden, and her governmental affairs
are less dependent on the king than
those of Sweden. The acquisition of
! Norway by Sweden really cost her both
Pomerania and Finland. and yet she has
raised Norway to position Of equality.
Blames the Politicians.
The "politicians'' of Norway are
blamed for the. trouble, and for melting
nation.' Says DR.. Sundbeck:
The fact that the Scandinavian PENN
| sula is near Russia and that it bars the
| latter country from the oceans of the
/ world has been made use Of by profess
sional politicians as a convenient weapon
i against Sweden. Nevertheless, Norway
| is quite as much exposed to conquest by
Russia as is Sweden The interior con-
ditions Of Norway with a permanent and
sovereign storthing and with only one
/ chamber of deputies and universal suf
frage, have caused to spring up class
of professional politicians who, when. they
can advertise themselves in no other way
stir up hatred against the Swedes. Here
I in lies the secret of the whole trouble.
/ It seems strange that there are Swedes
who run the errands of the Norwegians
That is what those who are seeking tt
|abolish the present system of government
/ in Sweden in favor Of chamber
system are doing. They consider the at
tainment of this goal of more importance
than the honor and welfare of the coun-
try. Further, the. social democratic
party, which aims at the abolition O
present social conditions, Is subservien
to the Norwegians. Many other party
| factions, which cannot be referred tt
here, have found themselves in agreement
with Norwegian aims in some respects
Anyone not ignorant Of politics car
judge for himself If it Is not probable
that foreign powers whose interest it i
to have weak and divided Scandinavia
have not had hand in the Swedish Nor
wegian disputes thru the use of inf1uen
tial tools.
In conclusion I may say that Norwa,
has never suffered any wrong thru Swe
den, that Sweden has always had to lool
after the interests Of both countries ant
, is at this very moment prepared to do al
that is in accord with common sense il
acquiescing in the wishes of Norway.