tice-Departement for enlightenment on the subject, and
they knew that there had been several occasions when the Norwegian side
had maintained the same opinions as those now presented.

The Departement now comes to the same conclusion as in 1847 when it
discussed the question in another agreement namely in a Resolution on the
intended proposal for a new Act of Union; in this there is a reference to
the Norwegian conception that there is nothing to prevent a member of the
Council from refusing countersignature and resigning his office. This
Resolution is accepted by the Government then in office: Lovenskiold,
Krog, Sibbern, Schmidt, Pettersen, Herm. Foss and Fr. Stang and by the
members then forming the Section of the Cabinet Council, Due, J. H. Vogt
and Fleischer.

The Section of the Cabinet Council finally decided that as a refusal to
sanction would manifestly not be only injurious to the Kingdom, but also
a denial of its Self-dependence, it had become a necessity to refuse
countersignature, in order to avoid being a party in the matter. The
Norwegian who did countersign would from that moment lose all national
rights.

After which the letters of resignation from the Norwegian Government, and
from the Section of the Cabinet Council were delivered and read in the
presence of the King. Respecting this matter, the customary protocol has
been drawn up.

Kristiania 30:th May 1905.

_J. Lovland._ _E. Hagerup Bull._ _Harald Bothner._

20.

The King's telegraphic protest against the declarations of the Norwegian
Government. Dated Stockholm, May 29, 1905.

Stockholm, May 29. On account of what the Norwegian Government has
declared--not only in writing in their resignations, but also verbally
in the Cabinet Council of May 27 after my rejection of the Consular
service law--I must declare that I, most decidedly, protest against the
comments made there on Me and my method of action. I adhere to everything
I have stated to the assembled Cabinet Council as to my constitutional
right. I beg the Premie minister to give publicity to this as soon as
possible.

_Oscar._

21.

The Norwegian Cabinet Minister's notification to the King that they
resigned their posts. Dated Christiania, Juni 6, 1905.

In response to our humble resignations, Your Majesty has in Cabinet
Council at the Palace of Stockholm on May 27th, decreed: "As it is clear
to me that no other Cabinet can at present be formed, I decline