Page 3 [3]
XeAsl 3s September 524
— page three ¬
Svalbarde
An extensive report, just received on the island group of
Svalbard ("Spitzbergen") is of greatest interest in connection with
the above-mentioned Arctic evolution.
Up to the end of World War I, the islands of "Spitzbergen"
were no man's land. At ábát time their possible future strategic |
importance was recognized. Lying approximately half way on the direct .—
route between Northern Norway and the North Pole, tt was felt that,
with developing air power, these islands might become some day a vital
stepping stone end basis in future transarctic areal connectionSe
As none of the three large Arctic powers = the Soviet Union, fixxak
the British “mpire and the United States = were willing to cede this
territory to any of the other two, an international treaty was finaily
signed in Sevres in 1920, granting to Norway the possession of
"Spitzbergen", called from then on by the name of Svaibard. To the
island group of Svalbard proper was adced the island of Bjornoya (“Baeren
Insel"), located on the sea way towards the Scandinavian mainlande |
411 together they cover 63.000 square kilometers. “he indégenous popüla- |
tion amounts. to only 800 inhabitants, of whom 500 live in the ma in
city of Longyearbyen. sorwegian sovereignity on this Arctic empire
hovever has been strongly Limited by the 1920 treaty. *he establishment
of fortificationg of military or naval bases and the stationing of
troops are forbidden. “11 the signators of the Treaty - which includes
the soviet Union - have been granted extensive rights as to the
acquisition of properties and the exploitation of all of Svalbard's
Tres OUTGCES «
' Wot only from a strategic, but also from an economic point
of view, Svalbard is a most desirable property.
None of the lands near the worth Fole are as open to the navigation as
Svalbarde A branch of the wulf Stream reaches all along the western
coast of the island group and even turns around it, so as to influence
its northern and eastern sectorse +he West coast is formea by well~ |
protected fjords, opened to ordinary navigation during ap, roximately
nine months 8: yeare
Due to this favordble climatic condition, Svalbard ana its surrounding
waters are extremely rich in fur animals, birds, fishes ana whalese
hunting, fishing and all its by-ppogucts are thus one of the great
resources for the islands" inhabitants.
But svalbard has been found to possess also a previously unknown mining
wealth: coal, asbestos, marbel, zinc, phosphorites, magnesites are some
of the findings.
The coal production however is the branch of Svalbard's
economy that has involved it most directly in international problems.
dhe mines are now exploited by two main companies: the horwegian=
Spitsbergen Goal Gompany and a Soviet concern, the "Arktik Ugolj".
Using the rights granted to it, by the 1920 treaty, the Sovict Union
indeéd has bought large mining concession on Svalbarde ‘this was
vital, as Russia planned to develop industry and military bases in
Carelia, the hola peninsula and in Northern Siberia. Such plans needed
a great amount of coal, which could be shipped, in sizeable amounts
an by the short and inexpensive sea way from Svalbard to the continent.
SA.