Immediately on his succession in 1907, King Gustaf, whose birthday is being celebrated by Swedes today, showed that he had mastered the problems of the times and understood the change in the position of the Swedish monarchy which had actually taken place in consequence of the advance of democra The ten years preceding his n to the throne had witnessed far-ching alterations in the political life of the entry. The extension of the franchise and onward movement of the Left parties ere the external signs of increasing political maturity and of the growing political and economic claims of the mass of the people. Really, a new era was being inaugurated. In accord are with the increasing prevalence of opinion as regards the vanity of outward pomp and of the need for equalizing power in the community the King decided to dispense with the coronation ceremony, which formerly had been the sion ofa display of g t pomp and ceremony. For similar reasons he also diminished the pageant, for instance, at the opening of the Riksdag and other important occasions, and introduced, by way of setting a good xample, greater simplicity in daily" life. The King was. not, however, spared great difficulties during the internal political tests which naturally occur during s nes of transition as a result of political and economic ideas spreading among he people. But the conflicts which several mes seemed threatening were gradually moothed out by constitutional means, thanks to wisdom and concessions based on the dependable experiences and firm organization of an old, well-established culture.
During the world war, when Sweden rom the very first, and later on in spite of all difficulties, maintained a strict neutral-y whatever else may have been imputed any of the belligerent parties, King of played an important part especially n regard to the position of the three north-m kingdoms Denmark, Norway and Sweden in tke various stages of the war. Relations between Sweden and Norway had in the course of years generally improved and had even begun to develop into friendship, but between the two Royal Houses no rapprochement had taken place. In view of the great dangers that might threaten in case the three northern kingdoms—in accordance with certain predilections among the peoples and certain old connections, traditions and separate interests—should follow diverging courses in their policies under the pressure of the manifold political and economic complications, temptations, or more or less covert threats of the war, King Gustaf grasped the opportunity to remove the last remaining traces of the constitutional conflict with Norway, which had cost him the crown of that country. In December of 1914 he invited the Kings of Denmark and Norway to a meeting in Malmo, the capital of the southernmost province of Sweden, This was the celebrated Scandinavian Triple Royal meeting in which the Prime Ministers and Foreign Ministers of the respective countries took part, and where during the yes': of var was inaugurated what was [Ps ~slly, 1 common policy of neutrality and..utual economic assistance. This cooperation was continued and strengthened as the stress was increased through increasingly more vigorous warfare. During the later stages this policy called for still further development through bringing about a lack of commodities, and thereupon the three northern kingdoms were formed into one single area of production with a free and mutual exchange of commodities.
The Triple Royal meeting at Malmo was followed by another one at Oslo in 1917, where King Gustaf, publicly calling to mind that the disruption of the Union in 1905 had dealt a severe blow to the idea of Scandinavian unity, made an appeal for a new form of unity, and agreement between the three lie "Let us form a fresh union," he said in a public speech, "not of the old kind, but a union of mutual understanding and of hearts, the vitality of which I trust will be more lasting than that of the former kind." With that he grasped the hands of the other two Kings, and his appeal was sealed before the nations by a silent promise. It is impossible fully to estimate the importance during the difficult times of the war-crisis of the ce-operation thus initiated between the three countries. It is a certainty however, that it has reacted favourably to them all during the years after the war, and that the beneficent effect of these northern royal meetings will continue in the future. King Gustaf has with great acumen judged the political conditions of his country and the claims for political expression of modern developments, with the consequence that the foundations of constitutional monarchy in Swedên- stand firm. The advance of democracy during this generation has certainly to some extent, and inevitably, circumscribed the royal prerogative, but no essential alterations ' have occurred.
The new developments, influenced by the traditions and experience of centuries, have taken place without serious disturbances.
After the war Socialist Governments have alternated with Conservative and Moderate Governments without any change in relation to the Monarchy. King Gustaf has reached his advanced years in perfect mental and bodily health. He has always been a lover of open-air games and is a good sportsman, which is mainly why he still retains his full vigour. As everybody knows, he is still a good tennis player, able to enter the field against younger, prominent opponents, and even defeat them. This is something to be proud of at 80 years of age, even for a king.
To the local Swedes who today will be celebrating their King's birthday this journal offers the congratulations of its readers expressing the hope that His Majesty will have many more years in which to continue those fine services which he has unstintingly rendered his country.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.