THE VACANT THRONE.

Evening Post, Volume LXX, Issue 17, 20 July 1905, Page 5

THE VACANT THRONE.

EMPEROR WILLIAM INTERESTING HIMSELF. [press association.! LONDON, 19th July. The Emperor of Germany has visited King Oscar of Sweden, and is now going to Copenhagen. It is believed he is interesting himself in the Norwegian question. Ifc is not unlikely that the Kaiser will disapprove the acceptance of the Norwegian throne by Prince Charles of Denmark (second son of the Crown. Prince) if the throne is offered him. NThe accession of Prince Charles (who is married to Princess Maud, fourth daughter of Kipg Edward) is desired in London. In the course of an interesting, interview with the Stockholm correspondent of the London Daily Telegraph on the 9th June, Dr. Sven Hedin said he was disposed to think that the 'precipitate action of Norway in the matter of separation was due in part to temporary unanimity upon this matter, which the English marriage of Prince Gustav might in some measure have weakened. Certainly, the individual attitude of Norwegians was far from being as confident of the future as their public action suggests. Apart from the discourtesy to Ki«g Oscar, he thought that the action of Norway would be welcomed by the Swedes, and that the King's action in assuming personal responsibility throughout the recent disagreement was due to o wish to keep the governments of the two kingdoms on friendly terms, whatever the upshot might be. Pointing out the difficulty which the Norwegians would have -in finding any European Prince to accept their throne, he remarked that the Kaiser's sudden alteration in hia yachting plans could only indicate his resentment against this behaviour to a brother Sovereign, and that it was not in the least likely that he would 'permit any one of his own relations to accept the Crown. iPrince Arthur of 'Connaught's name had been mentioned, but the curiously characteristic view in Stockholm is that, after the present discourtesy to his sistei*, it would be impossible to approach His Royal Highness on the matter. A leading Swedish paper at Gothenburg, the Handelstidning, organ of the prominent politician, M. Hedlund, publishes an article of the highest interest, owing to the fact that it is evidently in conformity with the views of M. Hedlund's influential party. The paper is strongly in favour of accepting Norway's offer regarding a Prince of the Bernadotte House for the Norwegian throne. Ifc says that this acceptation is of tho greatest importance to Sweden's Conservative and dynastic interests. If Norway were a Republic it would be dangerous to Sweden, as this form of government in a neighbouring country would gradually weaken the monarchy in Sweden. It is also important in order to maintain friendly relations and intercourse with Norway that two members of the Bernadotte House should be heads of .the Slate in both Norway and Sweden.