Treaty of Hanover, 1898

[Tardis218]

Treaty of Hanover

RECOGNIZING that an expedition to Torell Land, and the construction of a base, shall be conducted and that the Svalbard base shall be under German and Austro-Hungarian command and that it is, among many things a voyage to expand geographical knowledge of Svalbard, and that all procedures shall be followed;

I. OTHER NATIONS shall respect the Svalbard base, as it is a sovereign part of the German Empire and the Austro-Hungarian Empire respectively.

II.THAT the two parties shall be able to use all structures in the Svalbard base in a respective manner.

III. THAT any profits made during the expedition shall be split up evenly between the respective parties.

Hereby Signed,

Franz Joseph I,

Emperor of Austria,
Apostolic King of Hungary,
King of Bohemia, of Dalmatia, of Croatia, of Slavonia, of Galicia, of Lodomeria, and of Illyria,
King of Jerusalem, and so forth,
Archduke of Austria,
Grand Duke of Tuscany and of Cracow,
Duke of Lorraine, of Salzburg, of Styria, of Carinthia, of Carniola and of the Bukovina,
Grand Prince of Transylvania,
Margrave in Moravia,
Duke of Upper and Lower Silesia, of Modena, Parma, Piacenza and Guastalla, of Auschwitz and Zator, of Teschen, Friuli, Ragusa and Zara,
Princely Count of Habsburg and Tyrol, of Kyburg, Gorizia and Gradisca,
Prince of Trent and Brixen,
Margrave of Upper and Lower Lusatia and in Istria,
Count of Hohenems, Feldkirch, Bregenz, Sonnenberg, and so forth,
Lord of Trieste, of Cattaro and of the Windic March,
Grand Voivode of the Voivodship of Serbia, and so forth,
Sovereign of the Order of the Golden Fleece.

[scorpion]

Signed, Chlodwig, Prince of Hohenlohe-Schillingsfürst, Chancellor of the German Empire.

[Smyg]

The United States protests against this blatant usurpation of Swedish-Norwegian territory.

[scorpion]

The United States protests against this blatant usurpation of Swedish-Norwegian territory.

It is our understanding that Austria-Hungary is in negotiations with Sweden in regards to the Expedition, and what cost is to be extracted from our operation for Sweden's benefit.

[Serenissima]

Any such treaty will have to be also ratified by the Kingdom of Sweden to have any validity or force. As a presence ourselves in the Arctic, Great Britain wishes to be present as an observing neutral party at these negotiations between Sweden and Austria-Hungary, in order to ensure that our treaty obligations from the Congress of Vienna towards the preservation of Swedish neutrality are being fulfilled.

In addition, we must point out that treaties signed between Germany and Austria-Hungary, as a general principle of international law, are not binding on other nations that are not signatories, only to those nations which sign. Article I is consequently meaningless except in its unilateral declaration of sovereignty over Swedish territory.

[Tardis218]

Any such treaty will have to be also ratified by the Kingdom of Sweden to have any validity or force. As a presence ourselves in the Arctic, Great Britain wishes to be present as an observing neutral party at these negotiations between Sweden and Austria-Hungary, in order to ensure that our treaty obligations from the Congress of Vienna towards the preservation of Swedish neutrality are being fulfilled.

In addition, we must point out that treaties signed between Germany and Austria-Hungary, as a general principle of international law, are not binding on other nations that are not signatories, only to those nations which sign. Article I is consequently meaningless except in its unilateral declaration of sovereignty over Swedish territory.

Austria-Hungary respects the United Kingdom's thoughts on the matter. Talks will be held between Austria-Hungary and Sweden.

[Serenissima]

Given Austria-Hungary's respect, we presume that a representative of Her Majesty's government, such as one of our Foreign Office diplomats in Sweden, may be present and observe the negotiations on this subject, as part of our treaty obligations towards Sweden and Europe as a whole? This is of course, not participation, merely observation.

[Tardis218]

Given Austria-Hungary's respect, we presume that a representative of Her Majesty's government, such as one of our Foreign Office diplomats in Sweden, may be present and observe the negotiations on this subject, as part of our treaty obligations towards Sweden and Europe as a whole? This is of course, not participation, merely observation.

We grant the United Kingdom a right to observe the talks.

[Serenissima]

Given Austria-Hungary's respect, we presume that a representative of Her Majesty's government, such as one of our Foreign Office diplomats in Sweden, may be present and observe the negotiations on this subject, as part of our treaty obligations towards Sweden and Europe as a whole? This is of course, not participation, merely observation.

We grant the United Kingdom a right to observe the talks.

Much obliged.

[Coin]

The Russian Empire is much bemused that not a single word was sent to our embassy by any of the parties hereto mentioned, despite the history of Russian citizens having long hunted and fished from these islands. We hope to find it was due to error or mere ignorance; but the potential problem and diplomatic discourtesy arises where both Germany and Austria-Hungary - not to mention Britain - have de facto now supported the claim of Sweden-Norway to these islands. Russia is not stating her opposition to such a discussion by Treaty, merely, that it should be done via the normal diplomatic protocol.

We would request clarification of any support for a claim to be made; and that Russia be included in observance of the aforementioned talks - while also wishing the commercial venture of both Austria and Germany in the Spitsbergen Archipelago the greatest success.

Count Vladimir Nikolayevich Lamsdorf, Deputy Foreign Minister of the Russian Empire

[Serenissima]

Britain would support the addition of Russian observers to the discussion between Austria and Sweden. We note that the Norwegian, and therefore Swedish, non-sovereign territorial claim has been recognised by Britain since 1814.

[scorpion]

As a signatory to the Treaty of Hannover, The German Empire would also support Russian observers, in addition to those from Britain. Germany wants it to be known however that Austria, being the author of this treaty is handling the diplomacy necessary to open rights to the exploratory expedition on Svalbard. Germany will not send surveyors and expeditionary personnel until Austria concludes the necessary diplomatic steps to gaining access to the archipelago.

[Tardis218]

Austria-Hungary respects the opinions of the German Empire, the United Kingdom, and the Russian Empire. The Russian Empire will be able to send their own delegation to the confrences in an observer postition, unless the Russian goverment requests otherwise.