operation of all national parties, and, as the Liberal Party would not entertain the idea of a non-political coalition, the proposal had to be abandoned.

After the General Election of 1924 the state of parties is as follows:

Conservatives and Independent Liberals 54 Agrarians

Liberals..

...

Labour, independent communistic..

Social-Democratic Party

Communistic Party...

(Third International)

Radical Nationalists....

22

34

24

8

6

2

"

Justice, I. E. Christensen.

Church Affairs and Education,
W. C. Magelssen.

Social Affairs, P. A. Morell.
Agriculture, O. L. Bærøe.
Commerce, C. Robertson.

When the new Government was about to be formed, an attempt was made in prominent quarters outside the Storting to form a nonpolitical Government with Dr. Fridtjof Nansen as Prime Minister. These endeavours received the support of the «Aftenposten» (Conservative) and the «Tidens Tegn» (the leading organ of the Independent Liberals). The Conservatives and Independent Liberals approved of this idea; but the proposal assumed the co

Improvement of the Norwegian Krone.

The question of the position of the national currency is one of absorbing interest to the Norwegian public. The Norwegian krone has been subject to violent fluctuations during recent years, and has thereby created a certain degree of uneasiness and uncertainty, particularly in commercial and industrial circles, and in the labour market generally. On January 2, 1925 the krone was quoted at 31.30 to the £, but rose in the succeeding months to 22.50 (Sept. 9, 1925). It then fell again to 23.88 at the close of that year. During the past few weeks it has again had a strong rising tendency. The official quotation at the end of February last was 23.00, but business was done at as high a rate as 22.20.

The causes of this improving tendency may be many; but the main cause may be taken to be the accredited intention of both Norway and Denmark to work their kroner up to par. The Directors of the Bank of Norway have also given expression to this view, but have at the same time stressed the necessity of this return to par value being effected at a slow pace, so as not to bring about a derangement of trade. It is being strongly urged in many quarters representing industrial and trade interests that the krone should be stabilised at a level below the present gold parity; but the governing authorities are apparently unwilling to pursue such a policy.

The Bank of Norway is however master of the situation, in so far as it can prevent any panic-like rise and quietly regulate the movement of the krone on sound lines.

General Treaties of Arbitration between

Scandinavian Countries.

• The Norwegian nation has always been a fervent supporter of the practical and ideal peace movement. The Norwegian Storting was perhaps the first parliament to openly champion the cause of peace and to work for the adjustment of international disputes by peaceful arbitration. The attitude thus adopted by the Storting gained for it the honour of being appointed the awarder of the Nobel Peace Price.

To begin with Norway too held that certain issues, and especially questions of integrity and sovereignty, should be excluded from international peace treaties; but this country has now adopted, in principle, the view that such treaties shall comprise all disputes. In accordance herewith M. Mowinckel's Ministry addressed an inquiry to the Swedish Government in 1925 as to whether that country would be willing to conclude with Norway a general treaty of arbitration to comprise all disputes. The Swedish Government expressed its willingness to do so, and such an agreement was signed in Oslo between these two countries on November 25, 1925.

Since that time similar treaties have been negotiated between Norway and Denmark, and Norway and Finland. According to the Norwegian Constitution these treaties do not require to be laid before the Storting for rati

fication; but in this instance the Government has deemed it advisable to do so, in view of the far-reaching importance of this question, and the treaties will shortly be dealt with by the Storting.

It is anticipated that these treaties will give rise to a lengthy debate, for certain sections of the Norwegian public and also of the press are vigorously protesting against the conclusion of a general treaty of arbitration with Denmark. The opposition to this particular treaty is due to circumstances connected with the dissolution of the Norwego-Danish Union in 1814. On that occasion Denmark retained, in opposition to the will of the Norwegian people, the old Norwegian dependencies of Iceland, the Færoes, and Greenland, and also a number of The view very important historical records. held in certain Norwegian quarters is that a definite settlement of these issues must now be arrived at with Denmark, and they will not acquiesce in a general treaty of arbitration until such a settlement is effected. Needless to say, no one in Norway contemplates anything but a peaceful settlement with Denmark, but it is urged that this country will retain greater freedom of action in the making of such a settlement if it does not bind itself by a treaty of arbitration.

It is presumed however that all three treaties, also that with Denmark, will receive the sanction of the Storting.

IN THE HEART OF Last summer I arranged with some of my friends to go for a ramble in the mountains. Our party comprised a young American couple, my English wife, and myself the only Norwegian member of the party. After a thorough study of maps and routes we selected. Trollheimen, an exceptionally beautiful moun

THE MOUNTAINS

tain tract north of Dovre, into which motorists have not yet penetrated.

At Opdal on the Dovre Railway, a ten hours' journey from Oslo and four hours from Trondhjem, there is a first-class tourist hotel situated in a fertile valley encircled by imposing heights. This was the starting point of our

tour. Before leaving the hotel we made a final inspection of our knapsacks to make sure that every item, including map and compass, was in its place. We carried a week's provisions, for we intended to spend the whole day in the open and make for a convenient hotel or sæter towards evening.

It seemed a pity to leave the valley; for the air was so fragrant with new-mown hay, and the winding path leading to the foothills was bordered with a wealth of wild pansies and geraniums. On reaching the first ridge we saw below us in the distance the Gjevil Lake, its verdant shores surrounded by pinnacled snow-clad heights. Towards evening we reached a comfortable tourist hotel maintained by the Trondhjem Tourist Association; and before partaking of the evening meal the more energetic members of the parties were tempted to take a dip in the lake. Although the sun had been beating down on the lake all day, its waters had been kept refreshingly cool by numerous streams of melted snow.

On the second day we were up at an early hour, for we had a long day's march in front of us. There was no longer the slightest indication of a road to guide us, and the rough tracks we followed would not always be easy to find but for the presence of cairn marks painted in red at conspicuous points first on tree trunks, then on bushes, and higher up beyond the timber line on large boulders or on the rock face. But even without these directions we should have no difficulty in finding our way

Courtesy D. L. Butler.

by means of map and compass. We rambled on higher and higher; the rocky ground gave a good footing, and the occasional patches of snow that had to be crossed were also hard and firm. As the morning wore on the mountain sides grew hot under the incessant blaze of sunlight, and we had still some distance to go before we could halt for breakfast. But a little chocolate works wonders. I suggested that there was no eating chocolate in the world. comparable to the Norwegian, and my wife enthusiastically seconded me; but as good patriots our American companions voted for a certain brand in Philadelphia.

At last we reached a small river with the un-Norwegian name of Minilla. According to

our otherwise excellent guide book «Manilla is easily jumped», but I should like to see the man who can negotiate a leap of 30-40 feet across rushing glacial waters. True, there were a few large stones protruding above the water here and there, but they were too far apart to serve as stepping stones. There was therefore nothing for it but to wade across. As it is difficult to find fuel beyond the timber line, we had previously gathered a little dry juniper and dwarf birch, and we were soon gathered round a crackling fire by the river bank. After doing justice to a substantial breakfast, including bacon and eggs, we set out for the next tourist hotel situated near the Jøl Lake. Another long march on the following day took us through the long and narrow Svartaadalen (Black River Valley) into the heart of Trollheimen. This valley is not so forbidding as its name implies. It is hedged in by precipitous slopes, and avalanches are of frequent occurrence when the snow begins to thaw in early spring; but there is no such risk under normal summer conditions. And instead of being black the river is yellowish-brown, for its sandy bottom is visible through the cold transparent water.

A halt was made at a suitable spot, and after a hearty meal we settled down to rest in peaceful contentment. Our rest was disturbed by a rustle in some bushes close by; an elk hound came out out into the open, followed shortly afterwards by a young Laplander. An expansive smile spread over his deeply tanned face at the welcome sight of strangers. He was invited to join us and drink a cup of coffee; it is but seldom that a city dweller is given the opportunity of playing the part of host to a real son of the mountains. He was a mere lad, but his natural dignity of bearing made him more than our equal. He told us that he was tending reindeer in the mountains some way off, but had now been down to the valley to buy a few necessities. We parted like David and Jonathan. After following the course of the river for some considerable distance we saw a wreath of smoke on the opposite side far up on the rock-strewn slope. It must be the camp fire of our young Laplander, but how had he managed to cross these seething masses of icy water? We saw him come out from behind some bushes; he waved to us, and we waved back in high glee.

ESTABLISHED 1879

Towards evening we reached Foldalen, and

Special departments for export of:

Wood Pulp, Paper, Timber, Canned and Dried
Fish, Fish guano, Nails, Carbide, Cement,
Safety Matches, and other Norwegian products

spent the night at the Trollheim Hotel, the oldest station maintained by the Tourist Association. It is to this delightful spot that my thoughts are ever reverting, summer and winter. A broad, open valley, bounded on every hand by lofty snow-crowned heights, with torrents thundering through narrow mountain clefts and flowing through broad dales. There is the rush of waterfalls and swollen rivers night and day; and the valley is bathed in warm and genial sunshine. Some eight or nine hundred years ago outlaws fled to these remote tracts, where their descendants continued to live, despite the long and severe winter, until quite recently. But the deep solitude of these mountains was at last found unbearable, and the inhabitants therefore moved to more civilised districts. In summer the dale peasants drive their cattle up to the rich mountain pastures, and then Foldalen awakens to new life. But these tracts are never entirely deserted, for flocks of reindeer roam over the mountain plains, and the herdsmen are never very far

away. There are not many predatory animals in these parts. The bear is now a rare guest, and does not do very much mischief.

We would gladly have prolonged our stay in Foldalen but we could not loiter any longer. We returned by another route via Gjevil Lake and Opdal, up precipitous heights and along difficult boulder-strewn slopes, over sharp crests and through eternal snow.

Such a ramble may be exerting for those who have never been over such ground before. But each day is perfect. The air is so clear and light, the sun and the snow tan your face with rejuvenating effect; and your knapsack no longer feels heavy. You return to town with lasting memories of blue-tinted mountain peaks in the morning and golden-red slopes in the evening, of the slow smoke from the camp fire so fragrant with the smell of spiced wood. Through the long winter months you will have all this in mind and be grateful.

A. N. J.

NORWAY