RUSSIA AND SPITZBERGEN

Chronicle (Levin), 17 January 1947, Page 5

RUSSIA AND SPITZBERGEN

Received Tliursdav, 8.50 p.m. LOXDOX, .hui. 10. Commenting on the Boviet contention that the 1920 Spitzbergen trealy is invalid be.eiu'ise the sigriutorics include' Bowors who fought against the allies in the recent war, speci/icially dapan and ltalv, The Times' diplomatic coreespondent points out that on this basis many of the intemational trealies now in force could be cousidered invalid, in cluding The llague and Aloiitreux Con ventions and the. Tangier Htatute. "It is not denied in London thai this is an untidv state of afl'airs," the correspondent says. "Mr. Bevin him self in Parliament has referred to the existence of eneinv signatures on the -Montreux Conventioii as one reason foi its revision, but tlie Convention. like the -Spitzbergen Treaty is still in force and uiust remain so until modilied or ter minated bv its non-enemv sivnntnrbis.

V t O - it is true," the correspondent adds. "that. the Spitzbergen Treaty' was signed without the Hoviet's knowledgi or participation, but the rights of.Rus sian fiationals in Bpitzbergeii were re served and live years later, namely in March 1925, the Boviet Government made an official application tlirough the french Government for adhesion to the 1920 treaty. This consituted a de factu recognition of Xrorway's riglit to the sovereignty of Spitzbergen, and in 1925 the Soyiet. Government extended its de jure recognition. The yiew now taken, therefore, is that the Soviet Governm nt is as much bound by the 1920 Treaty as any of its original signatories.