Why was Norway given sovereignty over Svalbard in the 1920s?

dj168

The Svalbard Treaty said so and was signed by 39 or more countries. There was a dispute over the fishing rights of Svalbard between Norway and the Soviet Union. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Svalbard_Treaty Apr 29 08, 10:02 PM

author

Yes, correct. But what was the reason why these countries agreed to do so? For example, why did Norway get Svalbard while the Soviet Union got Franz Josef Land? Why didn't Stalin claim Svalbard? And why didn't Norway get Franz Josef Land? Your answer is completely correct. I just want to see if anyone could find additional information. But these are difficult questions. Some think Norway was "given" Svalbard partly because of its great losses of merchant vessels in WW1. I wonder if that is true. And also, the neighboring Franz Josef Land was mostly used by Norwegian whalers and sealers, not Russian. So why would Russia gain that area? I also have to apologize for writing "Stalin", he was not the leader of the Soviet Union in 1920, when the Svalbard Treaty was signed. But then again, he was so in 1925 when Norway finally gained the area. I am awaiting more answers, but yours was absolutely fine, dj168. Apr 29 08, 10:26 PM