In case Your Majesty should find yourself unable to acquiesce in the
Norwegian Government's recommendation to sanction the Storthing's
resolution for the establishment of a separate Norwegian Consular
service, we venture, in all humility, to apply for permission to
immediately resign our posts as members of Your Majesty's Cabinet, since
none of us well be able to countersign a resolution considered by us as
noxious to the country. A rejection of this unanimous recommendation of
the Government concerning a Norwegian law unanimously adopted by the
Storthing and issued by the whole Norwegian people to be carried through
cannot, in our opinion, be grounded on regards paid to the interests of
Norway, but would involve an abnegation of the Sovereignity of the
country, and would be a manifestation of a personal Royal power in
opposition to the Constitution and to constitutional practice.
Christiania, May 26, 1905.
19.
Report of the Cabinet Council held in Stockholm May 30th 1905, given by
the Norwegian Section of the Council.
To the President of the Norwegian Government.
The Section of the Cabinet Council herewith presents the following
report.
In the Cabinet Council held by the King at the Royal Palace in Stockholm
on May 27th the Norwegian Government presented their proposal respecting
the sanction of the Storthing to the Norwegian Consular law. After which
the members of the Section expressed their unanimity respecting the
proposals, and urgently appealed to the King to sanction them. They
emphasized the reform in question for the development of the country in a
national and economical respect, which was unanimously approved of both
by the National Assembly and also the whole of the people of Norway.
There might be many differences of opinion and divergencies on various
public affairs, but in this case, there was complete unanimity among all
parties and communities. The Storthing, in conjunction with the
government, had omitted from the law such questions as might have
reference to the points that touched upon the Foreign and Diplomatic
administration and dealt with the Consular question alone.
Therefore it was thought that all cause of opposition would, on this
side, be removed. It was therefore the nation's sincere hope, that His
Majesty would graciously incline to their appeal.