This gives some idea of what I was talking about with regard to Finmark. IMHO its interesting enough to read the whole thing :-
http://odin.dep.no/odin/engelsk/norway/history/032005-990459/index-dok000-b-n-a.html
but if people can't be bothered to, then this section outlines the issue :-
"Undeniably, however, there was also considerable mutual distrust between Norwegians and Russians during the Pomor era. The security-policy risk inherent in the extensive contact between the populations in the north was assessed at regular intervals by senior government officials. The Norwegians and Swedes asked themselves whether the Russian authorities would take advantage of the Pomor trading activities to increase their influence in North Norway and, in time, lay claim to territories in the region. It was generally believed that Russia, originally an inland power, had powerful motives for expanding towards the oceans, and North Norway's ice-free ports would have provided the superpower in the east with direct access to the Atlantic Ocean. "
along with this interesting comment :-
"When the Russian consul general in Christiania visited the northern waters in 1858, he was struck by the contrast between East Finnmark, which virtually seethed with life and activity, and the Murmansk coast, which lay deserted and abandoned. No more than some 30 years had elapsed since a permanent national frontier had been established, dividing the former joint Norwegian-Russian territory (1826), and it was amazing to see how the mere determination of a national border could transform what was previously common territory into two totally foreign worlds. According to Mekhelin, the disparity could only be ascribed to the difference in the efforts made by the two governments concerned"
Also of interest :-
"Towards the end of the 19th century, however, there was a strong upsurge of international interest in the Arctic, and other nations, such as Sweden, England and Germany, began to engage in economic and scientific activity in Russian waters. A more active Russian policy became necessary as a result of clashes and rivalry with these countries concerning the international legal status of Svalbard, Bjørnøya and Novaya Zemlya. The Russian government was forced to decide whether it really wished to keep what were in fact considered to be Russian possessions. Its change of attitude was manifested, for instance, in a keener interest in exploring the Arctic and developing the Murmansk coast, and in the founding of a new administrative city, Aleksandrovsk (today Polyevny) on the Kola Fjord in 1899. On the other hand, the governor of Arkhangelsk was engaged in systematic efforts to colonize Novaya Zemlya, first with Nenets (Samoyeds), and later with Russians, who were to attempt to spend the entire winter on the island to underscore Russia's sovereignty over the territory. To counter the threat posed by Norwegian fishermen and sealers, the first Russian naval vessel was stationed on the coast of Murmansk. It patrolled the coastline during the summer half of the year, but spent the winter in Archangel or St. Petersburg. "
It can be seen that in fact by the natural course of economic expansion, trade etc the Russians had more to fear for the integrity of their own lands in the long run.
And finally with regard to Norway :-
"In later years, Russia made an effort to improve its relations with its neighbour in the north by giving Norway its wholehearted support during the dissolution of Norway's union with Sweden in 1905. Russia was the first major power to recognize Norway as an independent state, and played an active role in the negotiations that culminated in the "Integrity Agreement" of 1907, under which the European powers agreed to guarantee Norway's integrity as an independent state. In so doing, the Russians took the wind out of the sails of various Swedish press reports which claimed that Russia planned to take advantage of Norway's separation from Sweden to demand adjustments to the border in the north.
From the Russians' viewpoint, border relations were a subsidiary question: it was far more important that Norway had now seceded from "pro-German" Sweden, and that England should be prevented from assuming a preferential position as a guarantor of Norway's integrity. The events of 1905 show that the objective of Russia's policy as regards Norway was primarily defensive. Russian newspapers reported on the signing of the Integrity Agreement in 1907 as follows: the fact that Norway was now a neutral state whose independence was guaranteed by the great powers eliminated the possibility of a third party occupying one of the North Norwegian ports on the Arctic Ocean. Friendly relations with Norway were the best means of protection against undesirable neighbours in the vicinity of Russia's vulnerable northern territories. "
Hopefully this provides some enlightenment ! Read the rest of the article for additional context.
Grey Wolf
