e unacceptable to Norway as they were opposed to the very basis and
object of the negotiations."

[45:1] Different drafts of laws were especially to be discussed in this
way. These outlines are, however, characterised by the ever well informed
Norwegian politician Mr C. BERNER as "quite preliminary".

[45:2] In an earlier stage of the negotiations, the Norwegian Cabinet
were evidently not under the impression that the most important of these
preliminary negotiations was brought to a successful conclusion. C.
BERNER says--in the Storthing debate Feb. 13th 1904--he had heard
both from Norwegian and Swedish negotiators that to frame this laws in a
quite satisfactory manner would be a very difficult thing.

VI.

[Sidenote: _Norwegian policy after the grounding of the Consular
negotiations._]

The breaking off of the Consular negotiations undoubtedly put Norwegian
politicians into a very difficult situation. Thanks to the close
connection between the Union policy and the internal party disputes in
Norway, a popular interest has arisen for Union Politics which in
comparison with the realities disputed over, may be regarded as
extremely abnormal[47:1]. With the lack of consideration which in
critical moments distinguishes a similarly excited state on the people's
part, it was to be expected that the issue of the negotiations on the
Consular question would rouse their passions

It can hardly be said that Norwegian politics stood the trial in the
situation. To a Norwegian, that which followed may appear as a powerful
and magnificent achievement. Outsiders can content themselves by stating
that _the high-flown Radical politics of the last 20 years now bear their
fruit_.

In these days much is said of "necessity" in the development of events.
"Necessity", it is said, "has been stronger than the wishes of
individuals". To those who in any degree believe in personal influence
and personal responsibility, and not only the _needs_ in the progress of
history, it may be of interest to observe how those who now advance to
the front in Norway--MICHELSEN, LOeVLAND, BERNER, ARCTANDER--belong to
the old ranks of radicals from the beginning of 1890. Scarcely any
leading men have more strongly emphasized the importance of _creating_
public opinion than the Norwegian radical leaders, and few, with regard
to this, have better conformed their conduct to their views. The road to
do so these men pointed out was now followed at an un