THE Waihi Daily Telegraph WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE WAIHI MINER THURSDAY, JUNE 8, 1905

Waihi Daily Telegraph, Volume V, Issue 1347, 8 June 1905, Page 2

THE Waihi Daily Telegraph WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE WAIHI MINER

THURSDAY, JUNE 8, 1905

'HoißßhaH llio tress tlio l'ooiJn's Kivlit maintain IIn«woi! by mtfiwiwo tad unbrihod by ?«in [ Horo patriot Truth lie glorious prooopt* dm* Pledged to Reliition Liberty, mid law

THE strained feeling which for a 'considerable- time has affected the peace of the united countries Sweden and Norway shows signs of culminating in an open breach, with the probability of a struggle for independence on the part of Norway. The fear is emphasised by a cablegram received yesterday, which stated that thy Norwegian Government had forbidden Swedish warships to enter Norwegian military ports without special permission, and that the step was regarded as a prelude to proclaiming Norway a republic. The quarrel is the outcome of Norway's demand for a consular service of her own. Up Jo the present, in spite of tlio agitation in Norway, ono consular service has sufficed for tlio two countries, just as both have been nerved by a joint control of their foreign affairs and by one diplomatic service. These factors, and the further ono that both countries aro ruled by one monarch, are tho only bars to the fullest liberty of action. In local matters both do pretty well as they please.. .Each basils own constitution, under which ils own nrivate laws are framed, but both aro parties to a treaty of union, which provides for joint administration in certain mattors. But it seems that in the treaty there is nothing about a consular service. It is mention«d only in the Constitution of Norway, and the Norwegians claim that the consular sendee is therefore not a matter which falls within the joint sphere of both countries, but within the private sphere of each. The trouble is of no particular interest to the world generally, excepting that it seems a pity that a portion of Scandinavia, who should do all they can to strengthen tho bonds of unity, and by this means protect the peninsular from Germany or Russia, are showing an unmistakable desire to saver the union and weaken the, power that combination gives them. Dr Nansen and Dr Svon Hedin, the champions of Norway and Sweden respectively., have for some timo occupied a deal of space in the Times, London, in a pen and.ink battle on the subject,, Dr Nansen, writing on the claims of Norway, concludes one of his letters as fol. lows:—" We have no desire to break the Union, though we. : (io want our rights; and shall this,lead to the rupture of the -Union, it is iii any

caso to "llio door of Swollen that 'the bikmo for it must be laid. Wo have tried all possible courses to a settlement ; there is no choice remaining ; wo must see to it thai our right in this onr own affairs is respected ; wn rely upon tho triumph of justice." Dv Sven Rodin, on the other hand, says that Sweden has by no means ■ lefused to allow Norway to establish ! separate Consuls, but she has ; throughout energetically maintained that the Foreign Miniate/ shall bo in a position to control their aeta from the political and diplomatic point of view. ll Here in Sweden," says the doctor, "out of 27 p'nd ConsulsGeneral, Consuls, and Vice-Consuls at the present moment iu the service, 17 are Norwegian and only 10 Swedish. In all their endeavours to preserve the Union intact the Swedes have had but one object in view—the protection of the Scandinavian peninsula. Norway's object has been, especially of late, to burst the bond of union. She must herself, bear the responsibility of the consequences of this act, if accomplished," That the demands of Norway are. io be duly enforced is shown by the cablegram quoted j above. Norway has recently gone! ahead. She is now a mercantile marine power,and apparently feels she has a light to demand what she regards as her constitutional rights. That Sweden anticipates a rupture may be gathered from the fact that King Oscar, who some time ago handed the veins of power over to tbo Crown Prince on the ground of ill-health, has again assumed office, and has shown that he has no intention of acceding to Norway's demands. On the other hand, although the King has the rightof vetoing the laws passed by the Storthing', if the samo Bill passes three Storthings separately and subsequently elected, his veto is overridden. The crisis may therefore be said to have reached its height, and unless the good offices of King Edward or some other monarch are sought to arbitrate, an open and unfortunate rupture may shortly bo heard of.