The Committee divided on the proposals into four
fractions, two Norwegian and two Swedish, and it
appeared impossible even for the most friendly disposed



THE CONDUCT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS 57

on the two sides to come to an agreement. When every
one of Norway's earnest attempts to bring about by
negotiation an honourable equality on the basis of
co-operation in the conduct of foreign affairs had
been brought to nought by the more or less incompre-
hensible resistance offered by Sweden, the idea arose
towards the end of the '8o's that Norway would have
to have its own Foreign Minister just as Sweden had.
Norwegian affairs would then be managed by the
Norwegian Foreign Minister, Swedish affairs by the"
Swedish Foreign Minister, and Union affairs by the
two Ministers in co-operation. That idea has, how-
ever, never become an item in practical politics ; it
has remained on the programme for the future. It
was thought that the fewer institutions the kingdoms
had in common, the less would be the occasion for
their further dissension, and the greater would be the
chance of co-operation and the manifestation of a
bold and united front. The Conservative party in
Norway formerly held that a united foreign policy is
best assured by means of a joint Foreign Minister,
Norwegian or Swedish, responsible to both countries.
