er 88

15. Norwegian Government's "proposal" of 17th April 1905 89

16. Report on proceedings of Cabinet Council held on 25th April
1905 92

17. Swedish Riksdag's Statement on Union Question 93

18. Norwegian Minister's Notice of resignation 94

19. Report on proceedings of Norwegian Cabinet Council 27th
May 1905 94

20. King's telegraphic protest against Norwegian Government's
Statement 97

21. Norwegian Ministers' announcement to King of resignation 97

22. King's telegraphic protest 98

23. Storthing's President's proposal for conclusion 7th June 1905 99

24. Storthing's address to King Oscar 99

25. King's telegraphic protest 101

26. Report of proceedings of Cabinet Council held on 9th June
1905 101

27. King's letter to Storthing 10th June 1905 102

28. Storthing's reply 106

I.

[Sidenote: _The object of the Union dispute._]

Not till the present day has the Swedish-Norwegian Union Crisis presented
itself in the eyes of Europe in a thoroughly acute phase. Its origin, in
reality, dates as far back as the foundation of the Union itself.

[Sidenote: _The efforts to give Norway a better position in the Union._]

The original cause of the agitating union disputes has been that Sweden,
from the very commencement of the Union, has internationally borne the
responsibility for the same, in other words, conducted the political
affairs of both Kingdoms. The inequality produced hereby, the Norwegians
on their part have striven to efface. Sweden has also for a long time
shown herself willing to establish full equality in the Union, at the
same time that she has accommodated herself to Norway in questions of
detail. As far back as 1835 it was acknowledged, on the part of Sweden,
that Norway's position in the Union was not in accordance with the claims
of equity. Thus by a Royal Decree that year the Norwegian Minister of
State at Stockholm was admitted into the Swedish so-called Ministerial
Council to take part in fo