03, also have been found with the present arrangement for treating
Foreign affairs. The Norwegian part of the Cabinet Council naturally
agreed upon the opinion that this arrangement did not harmonize with the
positions of the two countries within the Union. Whereas, however, the
Minister for Foreign Affairs, on the plea of the document of March 24,
1903, had pointed out the desirability that the question as to arranging
on other principles the management of Foreign affairs should again be
taken up for negotiation between the two countries, the Norwegian part of
the Cabinet Council could not forbear to hold forth, partly that the said
document presupposed a solution of the question as an independent case,
partly that, after the recent occurrences in the Consular question, the
chances of further negotiations between the two countries, concerning the
above-mentioned matters, were considerably clouded.

_His Majesty the King_ was hereupon pleased to dictate:

"In the present state of things I find Myself unable to take any other
resolution than to assent to what has been recommended to Me by the
Minister for Foreign Affairs. But I cannot forbear to express to My
peoples My heart-felt desire that the two Kingdoms, united almost a
century ago, shall never suffer any differences of opinion to endanger
the Union itself. The latter is truly the safest security for the
independence, the safety and the happiness of the Scandinavian Peninsula
and her two peoples".

Upon this, the Norwegian part of the Cabinet Council stated that they, in
all humility, had ventured to dissuade His Majesty from making this
dictate.

In accordance with the recommendations made by the Swedish and the
Norwegian Cabinet Council, _His Majesty the King_ was pleased to resolve
that the commission entrusted to the Swedish and the Norwegian Cabinet
Council in persuance of the King's resolution of December 21, 1903, shall
not lead to any further steps, and also to decree that the Protocols of
the Cabinet Council regarding this matter shall be published!

FOOTNOTES:

[84:1] In Joint Cabinet Council of February 6 the Foreign Minister had
recommended that the task of negotiation, entrusted by the King to the
Cabinet Councils of the two countries, should not lead to any further
steps.

11.

The note of the Crown-Prince-Regent to the special committee of the
Storthing. Dated February 28, 1905.

It is my wish to make the following declaration to