country to use the watercourses running partially through the other.

Such questions as only concern the winding-up of situations that cease to exist or are altered by a dissolution of the Union need not be finally dealt with beforehand.

The question as to whether Sweden and Norway should conclude a Treaty of Arbitration in some form or other will have to be considered, but the Riksdag does not deem it necessary that this question should be put forward by Sweden in connection with an eventual dissolution of the Union.

It is natural that, in dissolving the Union, the relations of Sweden with foreign Powers, in so far as these. have been regulated by Treaties between the United Kingdoms and such Powers, be taken into proper consideration. The Riksdag desires, in regard to this matter, only to impress that the legal position of Sweden, from an international point of view, be made perfectly clear, so that no doubt may arise in future as to the Treaty rights or obligations of Sweden and of her perfect freedom in regard to these as applying to Norway.

In consideration of the importance of the matter, the Riksdag cannot recommend that, as has been proposed by your Majesty's Government, your Majesty's Government should be authorized to conclude a conditional Agreement regarding the matter, the adjustment of which may be considered necessary in case of a dissolution; but the Riksdag declares that it has no objection to enter into the above-mentioned negotiations with Norway, provided that a demand for the repeal of the Riksakt and the dissolution of the Union be made by Norway in the way indicated by the Riksdag.

As regards the motions presented to the Riksdag that the Riksdag may for certain purposes place at the disposal of your Majesty's Government a sum of 100,000,000 kronor, the Riksdag considers that, although measures should be taken with a view of rendering such a sum available, it does not seem to be absolutely necessary that the amount should be immediately placed at the disposal of your Majesty's Government, as your Majesty's Government has already at its disposal considerable means for such purposes. The sum should be rendered available to be paid to your Majesty's Government in larger or smaller sums after a decision of the Riksdag. Arrangements should be made, however, that the amount be immediately available to be used, if necessary, by decision of the Riksdag. The Public Debt Office is therefore authorized to render immediately available the required sum on conditions which the Commissioners of the Public Debt will have to decide, either by arranging an open credit or by loan.

It does not seem necessary to make any provisional grant to

cover expenses incurred in rendering this sum immediately available; but the Public Debt Office will, should the money have to be advanced, report to the Riksdag at its next Session.

In reference to what has been thus set forth the Riksdag, in declaring that the proposal of your Majesty's Government cannot be accepted in the form in which it has been presented to it, decides that if the Storthing, after new elections, should make a demand regarding the repeal of the Riksakt and the dissolution of the Union, or if Norway makes such a demand after the Norwegian people have been consulted and pronounced in favour of the dissolution of the Union, the Riksdag sees no objection to negotiations to that effect being entered into, and authorizes, in accordance with motions presented, the Public Debt Office to hold in readiness a sum of 100,000,000 kronor, which shall be obtained either by arranging an open credit or by loan, on such conditions as the Commissioners of the Public Debt may decide, the said sum to be available after decision of the Riksdag for such measures as may be deemed necessary in connection with the circumstances which have occasioned the summoning of the Riksdag in the present Extraordinary Session.

SPEECH of King Oscar on Closing the Session of the Swedish Diet, with reference to the Dissolution of the Union with Norway.-Stockholm, October 18, 1905.

(Translation.)

GOOD GENTLEMEN AND MEN OF SWEDEN,

Ir is a moment of grave import at which I raise my voice in this Hall of State.

The Union, established in the year 1814, between the two peoples of the Scandinavian peninsula, who had in the previous centuries been parted, is broken, and the Swedish Riksdag has, by its Resolution at the sitting on the 16th of this month, approved my proposal to dissolve it.

In truth it is not without deep pain that I see a return to the separation which formerly existed between the two kindred nations, and a possibility that the difficulties and dangers which by a union well nigh a century old seemed for ever removed, may once more revive. I will not, however, refrain from expressing the hope that, although the political union unfortunately no longer subsists, an enduring peace between the Swedish and Norwegian peoples may nevertheless be maintained in future for the safety and happiness [1904-1905. XCVIII.] 3 G

of both, and I am convinced that good ground for such hope is afforded by the Agreements with Norway which I now by my proposal have approved.

In this hour I must publicly express, and not without deep emotion, my warm and heartfelt thanks for all the loyalty and all the affection, which the noble Swedish nation has shown me during the period which has elapsed since the 7th June last. The memory of this will not only be treasured in my heart until the last hour of my life, but it will also encourage me continually to exert such strength as still remains to me at my advanced age for the good of the country and the people who have shown me such loyalty and love.

I hereby declare the Extraordinary Session of the Diet closed, and remain, good gentlemen and men of Sweden, in all Royal grace and favour, steadfast to you.

KING OF SWEDEN S RESCRIPT addressed to the President of the Norwegian Storthing, renouncing the Crown of Norway on behalf of himself and any member of his family.—Stockholm, October 26, 1905.

(Translation.)

Now that I have on behalf of Sweden recognized Norway as a State severed from union with Sweden, I make the following communication as regards my own position towards Norway and the occurrences connected with the Resolution of the Storthing of the 7th June last.

I hereby express my decision to abdicate the Norwegian Crown, which, in despite of my upright intentions, has during the past year brought me so much bitterness, and which, moreover, I could not for the future wear to any good purpose, seeing that by a Resolution of the Storthing in conflict with the law the Royal prerogative of suspensory veto has been set aside.

Nevertheless, in truth, I wish only the good of that land and people which I have from my early youth always sincerely loved, and whose prosperity it has always lain near my heart to promote in so far as this object could be combined with the fulfilment of my duties as King over both realms of the Scandinavian peninsula.

Having regard to the direction which the relations between the two peoples have taken, I cannot believe that it would be advantageous either for Sweden or for Norway that any member of my family in the direct succession should accept election as King in Norway. Mistrust and suspicion would be sure to arise in both countries, and

would fall upon him as well as myself. Thereby might easily be disturbed the more friendly feelings which will, I hope, for the good of both nations, in no long time be once more restored in order to preserve the peace between the two-from henceforth divided— realms of the Scandinavian peninsula. I therefore declare that I am unable to accept the proposal made by the Storthing.

To those who have served me with fidelity in Norway during my reign of thirty-three years, and who still retain any affection for their former King, I send my heartiest thanks and my sincerest good wishes.

Palace of Stockholm, the 26th October, 1905.

NOTE of the Swedish Government announcing the Dissolution of the Union between Sweden and Norway, and the King's Renunciation of the Norwegian Crown.-Stockholm, October 26, 1905.

M. LE MINISTRE,

Stockholm, le 26 Octobre, 1905, A LA suite des événements du 7 Juin dernier en Norvège et de la décision, qu'ont prise les pouvoirs publics en Suède, de donner, sous certaines conditions destinées à sauvegarder l'honneur et les intérêts de la Suède, leur consentement à la dissolution de l'Union existant depuis 1814 entre les deux pays, des négociations eurent lieu à Karlstad en vue d'amener une entente au sujet de ces condi tions et de poser ainsi pour l'avenir, en écartant autant que possible toute cause de malentendu, une base solide et durable des rapports entre les deux pays.

Cette entente ayant été établie, et le Parlement Suédois ayant, sur la proposition du Roi, consenti, pour ce qui concerne la Suède, à l'abrogation de l'Acte d'Union de 1815 et à la dissolution de l'Union, le Roi vient de promulguer une Loi portant l'abrogation du dit Acte d'Union et de reconnaître la Norvège comme État complètement séparé d'avec la Suède. En même temps Sa Majesté a renoncé, pour elle et pour sa Maison, à la Couronne de Norvège.

En ajoutant que le Ministre du Roi à Londres a été chargé de porter ce qui précède à la connaissance du Gouvernement Britannique, je saisis cette occasion, &c. Sir R. Rodd.

F. CL:SON WACHTMEISTER.

CONVENTION between Sweden and Norway for the Settlement of Differences by Arbitration.

October 26, 1905.*

Signed at Stockholm,

M. le Comte Axel Frédéric Claesson Wachtmeister, Plénipotentiaire de la Suède; et

M. Thor de Ditten, Plénipotentiaire de la Norvège;

S'étant réunis en vue de convertir en Convention formelle le projet de Convention concernant le réglement de différends par arbitrage, approuvé par le Riksdag Suédois le 13 Octobre, 1905, et par le Storthing Norvégien le 9 Octobre, 1905, et dûment autorisés à cet effet, ont signé, sans réserve de ratification, les Articles qui suivent:

ART. I. Les deux États s'engagent à soumettre à la Cour Permanente d'Arbitrage établie par la Convention du 29 Juillet, 1899,† à La Haye, les différends qui viendraient à se produire entre eux, et qui n'auraient pu être réglés par des négociations diplomatiques directes, à la condition toutefois qu'ils ne mettent en cause ni l'indépendance, ni l'intégrité, ni les intérêts vitaux de l'un ou de l'autre des États respectifs.

II. En cas de divergence sur le point de savoir si le différend qui se sera produit met en cause les intérêts vitaux de l'un ou de l'autre des États, et de ce chef doit être compris parmi ceux qui, aux termes de l'Article précédent, sont exceptés de l'arbitrage obligatoire, la dite divergence sera soumise à la Cour d'Arbitrage susnommée.

III. La présente Convention recevra son application, même si les différends qui viendraient à se produire avaient leur origine dans des faits antérieurs à sa conclusion, mais elle ne s'appliquera pas aux différends relatifs à l'interprétation ou à l'application de Conventions contenant une clause spéciale d'arbitrage, et, par conséquent, pas aux différends relatifs à l'interprétation ou à l'application des Conventions conclues à l'occasion de la dissolution de l'union entre les deux États.

IV. Lorsqu'il y aura lieu à un arbitrage entre eux, les deux États, à défaut de clauses compromissoires contraires, se conformeront, pour tout ce qui concerne la désignation des Arbitres et la procédure arbitrale, aux dispositions établies par la Convention du 29 Juillet, 1899, sauf en ce qui concerne les points indiqués ci-après. V. Aucun des Arbitres ne pourra être sujet de l'un ou de

* Signed also in the Swedish and Norwegian languages. See also Procèsverbal, page 830.

+ Vol. XCI, page 970,