Evening star., 1914-02-15

Dispatches dated Stockholm. the sth
net has resigned as a protest
Cabinet against the kings utter
Resigns. ances:" The eabine. re-
cause Of a divergence of opinion as to the
kings Interpretation of his rights to give
free expression publicly 10 his opinion
in political matters without previously
consulting the ministers
King Gustav. in a speech to 10000 peas
ants who had gathered at Stockholm on
the 9Th instant to demand. in the interest
of the national defense, an Increase in
Swedens armament, declared that the
problem Of defense was one which must
be solved without loss OF time. and on
that point he was determined not to
yield
To this challenge to his unwilling cabi-
net the latter propounded to the king sew
eral questions. Among these: If he in
tended to declare in advance that he would
not accept the proposals for bettering
the defense unless they conformed to the
claims put forward by the military eX-
perts? If the king had adopted the atti-
tude publicly announced on the question
of national defense. before the ministers
had an opportunity to submit their pro-
posals to him and their reasons for
adopting them?'
And the cabinet submitted, furthermore,
the following request:
The cabinet would further ask your
majesty when your majesty intends
matters to inform the cabinet beforehand
concerning the character of the intended
observation
And the king replied:
Il cannot agree to this. as l will not
deprive myself of the right to speak With
out restraint to the Swedish people
King Gustav promptly accepted the
resignation of Premier Karl Albert Staaf
and the entire cabinet and thereupon
summoned Baron de Geer, who is gov
moderate liberal party. who would pro-
coed to reconstitute the cabinet
A later dispatch dated Stockholm 18th
instant announced Baron de Geer's failure
to form a ministry, whereupon the king
invited the conservatives to take control.
Ii the conservatives accept it is expected
that Admiral Lndman. who was formerly
premier and minister of marine In a con-
servative cabinet, will accept the task
and assume the premiership. The disso-
luton of the riksdag will be proclaimed
Immediately.
Admiral Lindman submitted program
recently in the riksdag of naval construc-
ton for the next five years as mark
"
the matter OF armament. 1t proposed
the immediate laying down of three bat
tieships of the Sverige type, the ship
now being built by private subscription,
two destroyers and three submarines tn.
cost to be covered by a vote of seven
and one-half million kroner. or $500 a
year for five years.
:;
In Sweden the national defenses have
been neglected until now. oppressed by a
vague fear of impending
Swedish war, the soul of the ma
n.e tion has suddenly awak-
NsAe'e"' ened to a realization of the
peril The assembling of 10000 peasants
at Stockholm was not the inspiration of
magic. 1t was the result of a mathemat-
ical effort to arouse public sentiment.
teach the people the needs of the nation
which the riksdag appeared to ignore.
The word of order went out from Up
sal to the two factions of the Swedish
people which from ancient times have
constituted the force of the nation-the
young men of the university town of Up
sal and the peasants.
January 1. 1914. the decent" or lecture
professors and students, were well pre-
pared for their patriotic work by study.
Add to this the students under the man
agement of their. professors. published a
small weekly review entitled the Fanal.
or the Beacon Light. Its motto was
'Patria and the national defense" This
little weekly was started with a sub
scription list of $1,000 names!
Professors and students. we'll instruct
ed and with the order to instruct the
people," spread by tens and hun
ao
the more meritorious Tor the project they
would impose upon the people in the
form of a tax for national defense en-
tailed a sacrifice upon each professor and
500 days in the army. while the
riksdag had hesitated to impose upon
the people 800 or at most 315 days serv-
ice.
The assembling of $1,000 people was a
peasants idea. He would unite this for
midable mass of men at the
Peasants capital in the commence
NJ. nent of the riksdag's ses-
sion. the better to impress
the king and his cabine. with the move
ment at the same time that pet.ti4n for
the defense of country was presented to
The king.
The 9th of February was memorable
day in the Swedish calendar ana the
Fanal accomplished the plan il had out
Lined for its adherents 1t did more. it
overturned an unwilling cabinet and put
the ship of state on new course with
the aid of King Gustav.
Americans are sincerely attached 10 the
Scandinavian people, whose robust
patriotism constitutes them q fanal to
follow. Besides. we are attached to them
by our traditions that date from our
treaty with Sweden. which was executed
by Benjamin Franklin at Paris April ::
1888
The government of Sweden. it may be
remarked, Is constitutional monarchy
or regerings-formen which dates rom
June i, 1sO0 Accord:ng to the statutes
the king must be of the Lutheran Church.
He may declare war and make peace
after consultation with his council of
state. He may conclude treaties and
preside in the supreme court. The
princes of blood royal are excluded from
all civil employment. The king possesses.
however, legislative power In matters Of
political administration. but in all other
respects that power is exercised by the
diet in concert with the sovereign. and
every new law must have the assent of
the crown. The diet consists of two
chambers. both elected by the people.
The first chamber. elected for nine yea s
consists of 1jO- members. the second
elected for three years. consists of 250
members. On the whole the king may
claim to say II am the state" and he is
willing to divide his power with the peo-
pie.