File No. 657.119/121
The Ambassador in Great Britain ( Page) to the Secretary of State
[Received November 12, 2.35 a.m.]
7670. For attention of Mr. Polk and War Trade Board:
The following is an identic telegram which will be addressed immediately by the British and French Governments to their representatives [Page 1060] at Christiania. McCormick and Taylor recommend that identic instructions be issued to Schmedeman at once:
Norwegian negotiations: [British], French and United States Governments have definitely agreed to transfer of negotiations to Christiania, you should accordingly on your colleagues receiving similar instructions open negotiations for an agreement on lines already communicated to you which may be briefly summarized as follows. We desire to obtain if possible—
- A.
- Cessation of all exports direct or indirect to enemy countries.
- B.
- Continuance of existing exports and former facilities to the Allies.
- C.
- Complete and reliable statistics of all exports to be furnished monthly.
- D.
- No landing of Norwegian fishermen’s catch at other than Norwegian ports without consent of Allies. In return for acceptance of these conditions you may promise facilities for supply and importation of commodities on rationed basis estimated to satisfy Norway’s legitimate home requirements.
Detailed lists of the proposed rations as approved by the three Governments will be telegraphed within next few days.
If you find that entire cessation of all exports to the enemy is unattainable without undue delay you may offer concession in the matter of fish exports. We should be prepared in the last resort to agree to such export up to a maximum of forty thousand tons per annum in fixed monthly installments; the term fish should include every description of fish and fish products, the weight being calculated on the basis of the amount of freshly caught fish represented in the products derived therefrom.
Enemy armies are largely supplied with Norwegian canned goods and you should therefore make a special point of suitably limiting proportion of the fish exports to the enemy which may be sent in form of canned goods.
Confidential. It is important that Norwegian negotiations shall be completed as rapidly as possible since the negotiations with Denmark are being gracefully held up till that happens.
For your information. The British will add to their telegram the following paragraph: “E. Renewal of loan for fish purchases due for repayment next July till some month after in conclusion peace.”
It is hoped that only one more conference here will be necessary to determine definitely scale of commodities estimated to satisfy Norway’s legitimate [requirements]. This conference will probably be held on Monday.