§ 1. Sir MARTIN CONWAYasked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the Spitzbergen Commission appointed by the Supreme Council in Paris has advised that the sovereignty of the Spitzbergen Archipelago be given to Norway; who was the British representative on that Commission; whether he assented to that recommendation; and whether His Majesty's Government agree with it?
§ The UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE for FOREIGN AFFAIRS (Mr. Cecil Harmsworth)The answers to the first, third, and fourth parts of my hon. Friend's question are in the affirmative. As regards point 2, the representative's name is the hon. Charles Tufton, who acted under the instructions of the Peace Delegation and the Secretary of State.
§ Sir M. CONWAYWas the sovereignty given to Norway, or only a mandate? Was the British representative an expert on the question; and did he obtain any further information or instructions from people who understood the problem?
§ Mr. HARMSWORTHI understand that the sovereignty has been given to the Norwegian Government; the other points are covered by the subsequent questions of the hon. Gentleman.
§ Colonel YATEWas this representative of the Foreign Office the same official who gratuitously signed the statement that Spitzbergen was terra nullius?
§ Mr. HARMSWORTHI did not quite catch the question of the hon. and gallant Gentleman.
§ 2. Sir M. CONWAYasked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether about 85 per cent. of the total mineral area of Spitzbergen has already been acquired by British enterprises acting with the express encouragement and active support of the British Government and with its guarantee of the protection of the British flag?
§ Mr. HARMSWORTHAccording to the most recent figures in my possession, the amount of territory in Spitzbergen claimed by British companies is approximately 4,000 square miles, by Norwegian 900 square miles, by Swedish 350 square miles, and by Russian 100 square miles. The claims of the British companies are thus about 75 per cent. of the whole areas claimed. In the absence, however, of any accurate and comprehensive survey, it would be difficult to say what proportion of the total mineral area of Spitzbergen is covered by the British claims. If by "guarantee of the protection of the British flag" my hon. Friend implies that His Majesty's Government promised at any time to annex Spitzbergen, I can only say that I am unaware of any such undertaking. I think I can assure my hon. Friend that the conditions attached to the treaty by which the sovereignty of Spitzbergen is conferred on Norway will adequately safeguard existing British rights.
§ Colonel YATEAre British rights safeguarded against Norwegian mining rules?
§ Mr. HARMSWORTHI understand there are special provisions in the treaty safeguarding British rights.
§ Colonel WEDGWOODDoes that mean that British companies mining in Spitzbergen will be enabled to escape the English Income Tax of 6s. in the £?
§ Mr. HARMSWORTHI am not an authority on that.
§ 3. Sir M. CONWAYasked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the undertaking given to repre- 851 sentatives of British enterprises in Spitzbergen that they should be consulted and their evidence taken and considered before any decision was arrived at as to the future status of Spitzbergen was carried out; and, if so, who was consulted?
§ Mr. HARMSWORTHMy hon. Friend's question is based on a misapprehension. No such undertaking was given by His Majesty's Government. The second part of the question does not, therefore, arise.
§ Colonel YATEAre the Foreign Office aware that Spitzbergen was annexed to the British Crown in the seventeenth century?
§ Mr. HARMSWORTHThe Foreign Office is quite familiar with the history of Spitzbergen.
§ Sir M. CONWAYAs to the terms under which Spitzbergen is ceded to Norway, will there be any opportunity of discussing them?
§ Mr. HARMSWORTHI think the terms of the Treaty will be published, and I personally should welcome a discussion on the subject.
§ Colonel YATECan the hon. Gentleman say when the terms of the Treaty will be published?
§ Mr. HARMSWORTHOn the spur of the moment, I cannot.
§ Colonel YATEIs there any prospect of it in the near future?
§ Mr. HARMSWORTHI should think so; I cannot say definitely.