NORWAY'S SPIRIT OF LIBERTY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 23969, 20 May 1941, Page 6

NORWAY'S SPIRIT OF LIBERTY

Hitler and his satellites have been profuse in their boasting of what the new order in Europe would create or establish. There has been no mention of what it would extinguish if allowed to prevail. Naturally they would not admit any of this even if they realised it—and there is no evidence that appreciation of historical values exists in the Nazi make-up. The commemoration of the 127 th anniversary of Norway's Constitution, marked in spite of the country's unhappy position, is a reminder of only one of those noble traditions which would be sacrificed if Hitler were allowed to triumph. It was in May, 1814, that Norway, fresh from misfortunes suffered through having been tied to Denmark during the Napoleonic wars, adopted the Constitution which has been the bulwark of individual

liberty ever since. In November of the same year Norway declared herself "a free, indivisible kingdom, united with Sweden under one King." That union lasted until 1902, when it was dissolved, without violence and without any serious legacy of ill-feeling. However, during the term of nearly 90 years in which a Swedish king was sovereign over Norway, there were many conflicts. with Norwegian rights under the Constitution at issue. A\ith sturdy independence the Norwegians clung to their rights and on one occasion an entire Ministry, charged with I having yielded national liberties j in face of Royal insistence, was im- | peached. After the separation of the I two countries the Constitution was ' broadened, and its anniversary was ! celebrated with increased enthusi- ! asm, especially as the right to ! observe this day had been chalj lenged at times by the Swedish i monarch. The spirit of such a people | is one of the things which the Nazi i may oppress, but cannot break.