Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-09-22
SoIdier-Sportsmon OIov
Begins Reign in Norway

OSLO. Norway. Sept. 81 R.
IA cheerful. sport-loving SOL
dier-prince assembled the throne
Of Norway today. The new
King, Olav v, had trained for
the. job through all his 81
years.
The Crown Prince took over
automatically as constitutional
monarch on the death this
morning Of his father, Haakon
VII. BY law. there will be no
coronation.
King Haakon succumbed to
q circulatory ailment. He had
been in failing health since the
summer Of 1855, when he broke
. thigh bone in q fall. His
death at IS ended q reign Of
50 years. He was the worlds
Oldest ruling monarch and had
been Norway's only king since
the nation dissolved its union
with Sweden in 1905. For the
last two years, King Haakon's
royal duties had been dis
charged by the Crown Prince.
serving as regent.
King Haakon's death plunged
this nation Of 3.5 million into
mourning. The governing So
cialists and the other i've DO
htical parties cancelled all cam
paigning for the parliamentary
elections october Z. until after
King Haakon's funeral Oc-
tober /.
4-MOnth Mourning Period
The ofncial mourning period
will run four months. Ships of
Norway's giant merchant ma
rine win fly fiags at half mast
until after King Haakon's fu-
neral a week from Tuesday.
From all over the world, the
royal family received messages
OF coincidence. In Great Britain.
Queen Elizabeth proclaimed two
weeks Of mourning in the Brit
ish court.
Cat Newport. r. l., Presi-
dent Eisenhower sent this
formal message Of sympathy
to Norway's new King Olav ":
CT wish to extend to you.
my deep sympathy and that
Of the American people on
the death Of your father, His
Majesty Haakon WI.
("His wisdom and courage
were a source Of strength to
the Allied peoples during
World War II as they have
been to the people Of Norway |
during his long reign.
CT am certain that your
reign will be marked by the
same resolute and steadfast
devotion to duty"
lin making this message
public, White House Press
Secretary James c. Hagerty
said the President also was
sending a more personal
message to King Olav, whom |
he came to know intimately |
while working with him DUR
ing World War II when Mr..
Eisenhower was Supreme
Commands. Of Allied Forces
IN Europe.)
Written Oath Submitted
In assuming the throne. Olav
submitted q written oath of
Office to a special cabinet meet
ing stating:
I promise and swear I wiIlt
rule the monarchy Of Norway in
agreement with its constitu-
ton"
He win repeat the oath orally
IN January when q new parlia-
ment is convened. The new
King is expected to conduct
his constitutional Office in much
the same quiet way as his
father. providing unobtrusive
leadership at cabinet sessions.
presiding with dignity at royal
ceremonies and maintaining an
easy democratic manner with
his people.
Like his father. CLAWS great
est test came in World War II.
When Hitler's forces overran
Norway, King Haakon defled
German demands for surrender
and fed to England to head
the Norwegian government-in-
exile for five years. Olav, a.
full general at the time. helped
organize a fighting force Of
Free Norwegians based in Great
Britain and in 1914 became
commander in chief Of Nor
ways armed forces. He returned
to Norway at the head Of the
army five days after Hitler
fell. the first of the royal fam
lily to come back.
A chunky. fuddy-faced man.
Olav. like his father and his