Dissolution of the union between Norway and Sweden in 1905

Treaty of Karlstad (Norwegian Karlstadkonvensjonen, Swedish Karlstadkonventionen ) is the name of the agreement that was signed on 23 September 1905 in the Swedish city of Karlstad on the dissolution of the union between Sweden and Norway.

Historical Background

End of the 19th century in 1814 resulting union between Sweden and Norway was increasingly becoming a point of contention. Norway wanted to make his own independence by consulates abroad visible. A similar law took the Norwegian parliament, the Storting, In May 1905, unanimously. In contrast, the Swedish King Oscar II vetoed. Subsequently, the Norwegian government resigned under Prime Minister Christian Michelsen. The resignation was not accepted by Oscar II. Oscar II was unable to find new members for a Norwegian government. The Storting took the occasion to declare, that King did not comply with its obligations as Norwegian head of state. Then the resolution on the dissolution of the Union and on the extension of powers of attorney for the government Michelsen was unanimously adopted on 7 June 1905 the Storting. The Storting suggested that a Swedish prince should ascend the Norwegian throne. The Swedish king rejected the unilateral action of Norway. The Swedish Parliament urged against the fact that the decision of the Storting conducted a referendum in Norway and the conditions for the dissolution of the Union by separate Swedish-Norwegian negotiations should be clarified. This proposal was adopted by the Norwegian government. In the referendum on August 13, 1905 368 392 Norwegians voted for and only 184 against the dissolution of the Union.

Course of contract negotiations

Karlstad was agreed as the venue because the city was halfway between Oslo and Stockholm. Negotiations began in a tense atmosphere on August 31, 1905. Main point of contention was the Swedish demand for demolition of all Norwegian border fortifications, although their military value was deemed to be low at the time. Sweden tried to get into this issue, the support of other European powers. Above all, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and the German Reich rejected any interference from the conflict. In Norway, the opinion was strongly represented to get the border fortifications. However, this group did not have a decisive influence in the Storting. The politicians responsible were interested in a peaceful solution and wanted to risk a war. Since the Swedish side was unchanged on its demand that the negotiations were interrupted on 13 September. The Norwegian government then ordered a partial mobilization of its Border Patrol, which also responded to the Swedish government with a partial mobilization. To defuse the situation eventually gave Norway after the Swedish pressure and agreed to the elimination of the newer, recently constructed border fortifications to.

Consequences of the contract

The undersigned, through the mediation of the Great Powers of Europe on September 23, 1905 agreement on the peaceful dissolution of the union included the full recognition of Norway as an independent state and the abdication of the King of Sweden from the Norwegian throne. On October 9, the Storting, and on October 13 the Swedish Parliament approved the treaty. The dissolution of the Union was officially on 26 October 1905. Norway offered to Prince Carl of Denmark to the Norwegian throne. As in Norway were held heated discussions about the future form of government, Carl asked for a monarchy the approval of the Norwegian people. In the referendum in November 1905, 259 563 Norwegians were in favor and 69 264 against the monarchy. On November 18, 1905, the Storting, Carl chose to the King of Norway, who took the name Haakon VII.

Norway was also after 1905 in Sweden together with the Scandinavian Monetary Union, which was not until 1924 that de facto ended.