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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.
