Morris tribune., 1906-12-15
Recent Occurrences OF Interest
in Sweden, Norway and
Denmark.
NORWAY AFTER sPITzBERGEN
talk Of That Country Annexing ISL
and ArOuses Considerable In
terest in Sweden.
SWEDEN.


The report that Norway Is con-
templating the annexation of Spitz-
bergen ana it's surrounding islands,
while not officially confirmed has
aroused no little interest in Stockholm
and st. Petersburg, This bleak bit of
Arctic land has never seemed valuable
enough heretofore to lead any of the
northern European powers to raise a
flag upon it. Recent discoveries OF
rich deposits of coal, however, and
the belief that there are other rich
mineral deposits have made Spitzber-
gen not altogether undesirable. From
Stockholm there comes a report that
Sweden has a claim prior to that Of
| Norway. and that King Oscars gov
eminent may insist upon it's rights.
Such a contention, if it be true that
Norway is seriously contemplating an
nexation, will give rise to an unpleas-
ant diplomatic controversy, the settle
ment of which might have to be re-
ferred to an international conference.
to the islands. Geographically speak
ing" says the Minneapolis Journal,
"The Spitzbergen group would seem
more naturally to belong to Nor
way. However they extend from the
10Th to the s1st parallel of latitude
and are decidedly north of Norway.
Swedish ships would reach them only
after long sea voyage along the en-
entire coast of Norway. The coal min
ing companies already active there, are
, Norwegian with financial backing Sc
cured in England and America. Be
fore the discovery of coal the islands
were endurable only as base of opera
tons for explorers to the Arctic re-
gions. They are quite uninhabited, be-
ing far to the north of the Arctic cir
cle''
A Grip. minister of Sweden to the
United States. has, according to a
Washington Dispatch been recalled.
Mr. Grip, who has been recalled from
his position of minister to the United
States, has served in that capacity at
Washington for a number of years. He
is more than GO years of age and is
eligible for retirement, according to
the practice in his country. 1t is said
by those who enjoy close relations
with the minister that his services
have been satisfactory to his sovereign
and surprise is expressed at the an
nouncement of his recall. 1t was gen
orally expected in Stockholm that he
would soon leave for the United States
for an extended leave of absence.
Where to locate the much talked of
Nobel palace is now a question upper
most in many minds. The latest
proposition is to locate same at Dur
CARDS Bay. This is a beautiful loca-
ton and many consider this to be the
most favorable location, everything
considered. This site has many sup
porters and it is likely to be the one
chosen for the beautiful palace, which
the Swedish Nobel committee has de-
cided to erect in memory of the emf
nent inventor.
An unusual number of moose have
been killed in the northern part of the
country during the past two months.
They are there in plentiful numbers
and sportsmen have had good shoot
ing. Not for many years has there
been such large number of hunters
visiting the northern section of the
country.
There will be a large number of
SWedish-American visitors in Sweden
during the coming holidays. The
steamship companies have heavy book
ings from America and indications are
that the number of Swedish-American
visitors will be almost as large as last
season, which was a record breaker.
The directors of the Swedish Tourist
society have appointed Gunnar Anders-
son to succeed Valdemar Langlet as
secretary of the society. Mr.. Anders-
sons appointment will take effect
Jan. /.
The annual fall session dinner was
given by the first chamber of the
Swedish riksdag at Hotel Rydberg
Nov. 13. Five hundred guests were
in attendance.
Frans r. Sjoberg. who not long ago
embezzled sum Of $500 crowns, has
been arrested in Stockholm and will
be arraigned in court next January.