The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1932-05-17
TELLS HOW NORWAY
WON INDEPENDENCE
Theodore Musgjerd Gives His.
torical Sketch Before
kiWanis Club

The declaration of independence
by the Norwegian people May II,
1914, resulted from their refusal to
become the trading material Of the
European powers arrayed against
Napoleon, Theodore Musgjerd told
the Kiwanis club at its luncheon
meeting Tuesday.
Musgjerd was invited to speak to
the club in observance of the 11Sth
anniversary of the Morse declaration.
Russia, Prussia, Austria and Eng
land promised Norway to the king of
Sweden In the peace treaty at Kiel,
the speaker said. Norway was to
serve as compensation for the Swed-
ish kings services against Napoleon.
The Kiel treaty forced the king of
Denmark to relinquish the throne of
Norway and to issue a proclamation
Ito the Norwegian people. urging them
Ito peacefully surrender to Sweden all
public offices and military forts and
Ito become Swedish subjects.
Elected Representatives
The Morse, however, Immediately
elected lip representatives., who ap-
pealed to England for revision of the
treaty, arguing that they had right
to choose their own ruler.
The British government encour-
aged the Norwegian assembly to write
a constitution, promising to take the
document into consideration in a
final settlement.
The assembly wrote a constitution
and then defied the European powers
by electing Danish prince as king
of Norway. Mobilization of a Morse
army followed, and, to finance the
Impending war, the Norwegians turn
ed in their gold and silver to the gov
eminent to be converted into money
Upon It's return from the campaign
against Napoleon, the Swedish army
invaded Norway on Aug. IA, 1914
Meeting guerilla warfare opposition
from Morse snipers, the Swedish COM
mander, Crown Prince Carl Johan
divided his army, sending one part te
the north. This part of the Swedish
army met defeat by the Norwegians
in the Battle Of Lier and the whole
army retired to Sweden.
Armistice Is Arranged
Convinced that the Norwegians
we're determined upon independence
Representatives of the four European
powers conferred with the Norwegian
parliament. The Swedish commando,
was urged to sign an armistice. These
negotiations resulted in the abdica.
ton of the newly elected king of Nor.
way, Prince Kristian Frederick Of
Denmark, and the king Of Sweden
was named king of Norway.
Taking the oath of allegiance to
Norway, this king created the So
called Act of Union, whereby the two
countries would have nothing in COM
mon except that they would have q
common king.
| The Morse. however, did not become
completely free until the union with
Sweden was dissolved in 1905, at
which time the Norwegian people
chose a Danish prince, the present
King Haakon VII, for their king.
Otto Bowman Presided
Otto Bowman presided at the
luncheon meeting.
H. P. Goddard, secretary of the AS
ISOLATION of Commerce, urged men,
bers of the club to attend the meeting
here next Monday night at which a
campaign against the railroads pro-
posal to reopen the western rate case
will be discussed.
Mrs. liver Acker, accompanied by
Clarion Larson, sang two songs
when the Fjords are Blue" (Alfred
Paulson) and Little Mountain Maid.
Guests included N. I. Roop, B. E
Jones, Ira L. Rush (member of the
Minot Kiwanis club, P. M. Clarke
(member of the Mohall Kiwanis club
and Staale Hendrickson, Coteau.