Norway and the Union with Sweden

NORWAY AND THE UNION WITH SWEDEN by F. NANSEN. Originally published in 1905. PREFACE: IN order to understand the differences, which, especially of late, have reached a critical point in the political relations between Norway and Sweden, it is necessary to know something of the earlier history of the two peoples, and the circumstances under which the Union between them came to be established and under which it has developed. The purpose of this little book is to give readers abroad, who know little about the early history of the Norwegians, a concise and authentic account of the most Important circum stances and events, which, with almost logical con sistency, have led up to the present crisis. The book does not In any way claim to contain anything new or original. It treats of matters about which a great deal has been and will still be written. I have tried, rather, to the best of my ability to state everything on the basis of the most trustworthy and most recognised authorities, and have obtained the counsel and assistance of leading men of the most divergent general political views. I think, therefore, I may venture to say that the contents of these pages are a neutral and reliable statement of what has happened, and of what is the opinion of the Norwegian people. My hope is that a foreigner, after having read this little book, will have gained a sufficient knowledge of our history and aspirations to form a somewhat more just esti mate regarding the difficulties which have arisenin the relations between the two Northern countries. FRIDTJOF NANSEN. LYSAKER, NEAR CHRISTIANIA, May, 1905. Contents include: i HISTORICAL INTRODUCTION . , II THE TREATY OF KIEL AND THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE UNION 14 III THE ACT OF UNION RIGSAKTEN 23 IV EPISODES FROM THE HISTORY OF THE UNION .... 28 V. THE CONDUCT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS 49 VI. THE QUESTION OF THE CONSULAR SERVICE . . .. . . 64 VII. THE POLITICAL SITUATION WITHIN THE UNION AT THE MOMENT 82. NORWAY AND THE UNION WITH SWEDEN.i HISTORICAL INTRODUCTION: IT may often be heard said that the Norwegian nation is young. Flattering as that idea may be to us Norwegians, it is nevertheless erroneous to believe that Norway is young as a sovereign state. Norway is one of the oldest kingdoms in Europe, with a history as a sovereign state extending over more than a thousand years. To compare It with the examples nearest at hand, it may be mentioned that Norway became a united kingdom at the end of the ninth century A. B. 872, and had a well-authenticated history covering the next two or three centuries, while Swedens history was still obscure, consisting mostly of a series of kings names. At the time that King Harold Fairhair overcame the last of the lesser kings and founded the kingdom of Norway by the sea-fight of Hafrsfjord, Alfred the Great had been king of England for only one year. Of the states at present constituting Europe, only the kingdom of Denmark, the kingdom of England, and a kingdom of France or of the Franks, together with a Russian principality, are to be recognised as existent at that time. At that far-off date Norway manifested a power that is indeed remarkable. The Norwegians played a prominent part in the founding of new states during the Viking period. They founded colonies on Iceland and Greenland and on the Scottish Islands, which were part of the kingdom of Norway they settled on the Isle of Man, founded a kingdom in Dublin, and took part in the raid that seized Normandy. 1 They played a part also in Frances history, and, indirectly, they also supplied fruitful inspiration to British culture...