Page:The Annual Register 1899.djvu/351

 1899.] Sweden. — The Budget. [343

present. This decision was determined by the position of the Norwegian Government, which did not consider a diplomatic representation in China necessary for the protection of Nor- wegian interests — even if the Foreign Department had been in accordance with Norway's pretensions.

On the Swedish Riksdag assembling (Jan. 17) M. Reuters- vard in the Upper House pointed out the extremely favourable financial position, which would allow of the military and naval votes being dealt with in a liberal manner, and of the defensive measures of the country being pushed forward with vigour. As far as the Union was concerned, it was the duty of Sweden to resist any unjust demand from Norway, at the same time Sweden would do all in her power to prevent the tie, which united the two countries, being severed little by little. The Presidents of the two Chambers, Count N. G. A. Sparre of the first, and Count Robert de la Gardie of the second, appointed by the Bang, on taking their seats addressed the respective Houses. Count de la Gardie, referring to the Greco-Turkish and the Spanish-American wars, maintained that the old maxim, if you want peace be prepared for war, still held good. Sweden could congratulate herself upon having such a well-balanced Riksdag.

The following day the Riksdag was formally opened by a speech from the Throne, read by M. Bostrom, the Prime Minister. Having mentioned the friendly relations with all foreign Powers, complimentary reference was made to the Czar's peace manifesto, adding that, whatever would be the result of the Peace Conference no country could omit doing what was needful for her self-defence, and that Sweden must continue to strengthen her means of defence, which were quite inadequate. The next day the Budget was introduced, balanc- ing with 130,807,000 kr., of which 21,316,000 kr. was surplus from previous years. The expenses for the Army and Navy amounted in the aggregate to 55,500,000 kr.

A few days later the debate in both Houses turned upon the relations between Sweden and Norway, and it soon Decame very animated. The more extreme of the Swedish Nationalists had for some time been criticising the Government somewhat severely, blaming M. Bostrom and his colleagues for not show- ing sufficient firmness in their attitude towards Norway. In their press, and by one or two committee nominations in the First Chamber, it had become evident that the section, of which M. Reutersvard and Professor Alin were the principal spokesmen, was not by any means pleased with M. Bostrom for his standpoint towards Norway, and it was freely rumoured that they might even attempt to upset his Ministry. Professor Alin, moreover, during the sitting, attacked the Government for its attitude with regard to the resolution of the Norwegian Storthing on the " flag " question. This attitude, he described, as an attempt to upset the status quo policy, which was the only one Sweden could now follow. In order to maintain the