Minister O’Brien to
the Secretary of State.
American Legation,
Copenhagen, November 21,
1905.
No. 39.]
Sir: I wired you yesterday as follows: [Printed
ante.]
I ventured to cable this advice in order that the President, if he saw
fit, might send congratulations, and in order that you might arrange to
have our government represented at the inaugural ceremonies, which will
take place on the arrival of the King and are intended to be rather
elaborate.
The Norwegian representatives have been very anxious that the United
States should be represented, and I am informed that our minister at
Stockholm, Colonel Graves, has already been designated for that
purpose.
The ceremony took place at the Amalienborg Castle and was considered as
an event of very uncommon importance.
There were present in the throne room the ministers of state of Denmark
and prominent officers of the army and navy, the diplomatic corps with
their wives, the wives of the ministers of state, and the ladies in
waiting upon the several royal ladies who were present.
The King, it is said, consented with a good deal of hesitation and
reluctance to the election of his grandson, Prince Charles, and this
knowledge, together with his great age and necessary infirmity, made the
scene a rather solemn and affecting one.
I beg to inclose a translation of the speech made by King Christian IX to
the deputation from Norway.
I have, etc.,
Inclosure.–Translation.]
Norwegian Representatives, Norwegian Men:
It is a great pleasure to us to meet the wishes of the Norwegian
people by accepting the old royal crown of Norway for our dear
grandson, Prince Charles, and we sincerely hope and believe that the
Norwegian people together with him, will have a glorious future
before them.
The young King does not come to Norway as a stranger, for he is akin
to the former Norwegian kings; nor will the Kingdom of Norway be a
foreign country to him, for throughout the country he will meet with
common memories of the history of the realm and of those of his
kindred.
It is our hope that the ties which already unite the young King and
his Queen with the old country and people will be strengthened by
mutual cooperation between the King and the people for the happiness
and prosperity of the old country, and it is our firm belief that
this will be a means of promoting not only the prosperity of the
Norwegian, people, but also that of its kinsmen.
We pray the Almighty God that this step may lead to happiness and
bliss for the whole north and that fraternity, peace, and friendship
will increase between the Scandinavian nations. We are fully
convinced that our whole house and the Danish nation are joining us
in this wish.
[Page 297]
By this we recommend you to the mercy of God, and beg you to accept
our heartiest greetings for the Norwegian people which you represent
here.
But to you, my dear grandchildren, I address myself with the wish
that God will grant you strength and energy to serve your country
and people with fidelity and rectitude; then you will be sure of
winning the affection of your people and feel yourselves as
Norwegians foremost in the work for the happiness and future of your
country.
You, my dear grandson, have served your native country and your King
with fidelity, and therefore I am sure that you will embrace your
new and responsible task with an earnest desire of fulfilling your
responsible position. Your father and mother, your whole kindred,
the Danish people, and I, your old King and grandfather, entertain
the warmest feelings for you at this solemn moment.
Leave with God, my dear grandchildren, the country and the kindred
that has fostered you, and go to the country and people that has
called you, and take your old King’s blessing for yourselves, your
kindred, and your doings with you forever.
God be with you.
