Karelin, V. Russian envoys in Kristiania, 1905-1917. Three incomplete portraits // Caution & compliance : Norwegian-Russian diplomatic relations, 1814-2014 / Kari Aga Myklebost & Stian Bones (eds.). - Stamsund : Orkana akademisk, 2012. – Vol. 1. - S. 61-70.

trial investments in Northern Russia (such as Dubrovka A/S and the Siberian company for trade, shipment and industry A/S, headed by Jonas Lied). Russia, for her part, was facing a rather aggressive German trade policy. This motivated Russia to support the Norwegian grain export market (as well as those of other Scandinavian states and Belgium) against competition from German trade mediation and American grain export to Europe. On the other hand, a certain vulnerability is to be found in Russian pre-war policy and the country’s economic position in Norway, which prevented diplomatic co-operation. This was due to several factors, including the weak popularity of the Russian political autocratic regime in Norway. This was again due in part to Russian policy in Finland, limiting the autonomous rights of the Grand Duchy. Another factor was the underestimation of the task of actively influencing Norwegian public opinion in favour of Russia. On the whole, Russian diplomats did not consider it very important to establish broad and close con­ tacts with those who represented different groups in Norwegian society, nor with its mass media. The low level of bilateral economic co-operation - even though this was growing year by yea r-and strong foreign competition (from Germany, the USA and Canada), also hampered relations. In the north, the traditional regional Pomor trade, which was both very popular and economically important in Finnmark County and the White Sea region, declined during the early twentieth century. Conflicts between Russian Pomors and Nor­ wegian polar hunters and fishermen in Arctic waters were followed by tensions in regional relations and negotiations for better regulation. The First World War became a turning-point and inaugurated a new phase in bilateral rela­ tions between Russia and Norway. The Russian envoys and their colleagues in the Entente had to handle a great number of tasks generated by the war conditions and alliances, such as Norway’s close co-operation with the Entente, the organization of safe ammunition transit to Russia through Scandinavia, and the prevention of a common Scandinavian treaty on neutrality. During the First World War, Russian diplomatic activity in Norway became more intensive and the diplomatic staff grew substantially. A Russian navy attache and also a commercial attache were appointed to the Russian mission in Kristiania in 1916. Separate consulate staff was assigned in Finnmark County, neighbouring Murmansk and Arkhangelsk. In Norway, the commercial community hurried to make use of the favourable market condi­ tions and submitted various business ideas to the Russian authorities. The lack of indus­ trial resources in Russia caused the Russian government to consider the use and develop­ ment of Norwegian industrial potential. In 1915, for example, the Russian Naval Ministry ordered 24 high-speed warships from the minor Norwegian shipyard “Maritim”. Some of them were later sent to the Kola Bay to form part of the newly-established Russian North­ ern Fleet. Due to that order, which cost several million roubles, Maritim gained experience - 6 7 -