Norway To Have Its Own Ruler

Norway To Have Its Own Ruler

The Storthing Declares Time for Dissolution of the Union Has Arrived

King Oscar Protests Against the Action

Swedish Monarch Records Opposition -- Desire for Separate Counsular System Brought on Present Crisis.

Christiania, June 7, 1905

King Oscar's refusal to sanction the bill passed by the Storthing providing for a separate consular service for Norway culminated today in the passage of a resolution by the Storthing declaring the dissolution of the union of Sweden and Norway and that the king had ceased to act as king of Norway. Although the action was anticipated, it caused considerable excitement in this city on account of the anxiety as to what action the king would take.

The crisis became acute May 26 when his majesty after three months rest during which the regency was confided to Crown Prince Gustav resumed the reins of office. The council of state immediately submitted to him the consular bill which he refused to sanction arguing that any action must receive the sanction of the mixed council. The Norwegian council of state thereupon resigned and the king refused to accept their resignations as in view of the state of public opinion it was impossible to form a new government. Demonstations were held throughut the country endorsing the action of the council of state.

The consular bill while apprently of little importance was designed to open the whole question of foreign affiars which Norway desires to manage independently of Sweden.

Stockholm, Sweden, June 7, 1905

Kink Oscar has sent a telegram to Premier Michelson as follows"

Have received the communication of the council of state, and record the most decided protest against the method and action of the government.

Christiania, Norway, June 7, 1905

The Storthing today declared the union between Norway and Sweden under one king to be dissoved and that the king has ceased to act as king of Norway. The storthing further empowered the present state council to act as a government of Norway until further notice, and to exercise the power heretofore apportaining to the king.

An address to the king was adoped declaring that no ill feeling was entertained against him, his dynasty, or the Swedish nation, and asking him to cooperate in the selection of a young prince of the house of Bernadotte to occupy the throne of Norway.

It is not anticipated that King Oscar will consent to any prince of the house of Bernodette accepting the Norwegian crown. Should the king refuse, there is a possibility that the throne may be offered to Prince Waldemar, the third son of King Christian of Dnemark. The people of Denmark are larely in sympathy with the Norwegian demands.

Vested in Council of State

At the opening of the session, the government informed the Storthing that it relinquished office from today. The Storthing thereupon unanimously and without debate passed the following resolution:

Whreas, all the members of the council of state have laid down their offices, and,

Whereas, his majesty, the king, has declared himself unable to establish a new government for the country and

Whereas, the constitutional regal power thus becomes inoprative, the Storthing authorizes the members of the council of state who reitred today to exercise until further notice as the Norwegian government the power appertaining to the king in accordance with Norway's constitution and existing laws with those changes which are necissitated by the fact that the union with Sweden under one king is dissolved in consequense of the king having ceased to act as a Norwegian king.

Would Live in Harmony

If the union is now severed, the Norwegian people have no loftier wish than to live in good harmony with all and not least with the people of Sweden and the dynasty under the direction of shich our country despite many and bitter disputes affecting the union has attained such important intellectual and material developments. As eveidence of the fact that the struggle of the Norwegian people for the full independce of the gatherland has not been founded on any ill-feeling towards the royal house or the Swedish people and has not left behind any bitterness towards either of these, the Storthing respectfully solicits your majesty's cooperation to the end that a prince of your majesty's house may be permitted, while relinquishing his right of succession to the throne of Sweden, to accept election as king of Norway.

The day on which the Norwegian people elect their own king to ascend the ancient throne of Norway will open up an era of good and cordial relations with the Swedish people and of peace, concern and loyal cooperation in the north for the protection and culture of the people and their freedom and independence.

Convinced of this the Storthing ventures to express the confidence that what has now been done will turn out to be for the good to all as well as your majesty for whose person the Norwegian people will retain their respect and devotion.

M. Michelsen, the retiring premier, accepted in behalf of the government the "honorable and difficult task with which the Storthing has entrusted it."

Five social Democrats dissented from the address to the king.

It is expected that the Storthing will issue a proclamation to the Norwegian people regarding the dethronement of the mararch.

The dissolution of the union between Sweden and Norway has been pending for some time and had its growth in the desire which grew stronger as time passed for the establishment of separate consular systems for the two countries. King Oscar recently vetoed at Stockholm, the council of state providing for separate consulr representation and the Norwegians maintained that the king by so doing and partly by his absense from Norway had suspended his rights and duties as king of Norway.

One of the causes for the desire in Sweden and Norway for separate counsular system was the fact that Sweden is protectionist and Norway is for free trade and also because of Norway's more extensive sea treade and other divergencies of commercial intersts.

Source: Racine Daily Journal, Wednesday, June 7, 1905, Page 1, Racine Wisconsin.

 
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