File No. 103.96/94
The Ambassador in Great Britain ( Page ) to the Secretary of State
[Received November 23, 3 a.m.]
7768. For War Trade Board from McCormick:
Your No. 10 containing Nansen proposition was considered this morning in conference with British, French and Italian representatives and approved after making the following changes:
Fish, 25,000 tons if possible, 40,000 tons if necessary. All exportable surplus of fish oil to go to Allies. If maximum amount of fish granted suggest elimination of ferro-silicon. Molybdenite and chrome to be classified under paragraph (4) your cable, and add “any alloys thereof.” Instead of paragraph (3) we recommend, “In consideration the supply by the United States of copper to cover the reasonable domestic needs of Norway, Norway agrees to suspend exportation of copper, cuprous pyrites and ferrous pyrites except to the Allies or approved neutral destination.” Reserve to Allies right to continue present imports of calcium carbide and calcium nitrate, and all supplies of all commodities which the Allies are now receiving to be maintained. We suggest that Holland and Switzerland be included with Denmark and Sweden in all classes of the export Norwegian goods to Germany as suggested in paragraph (4), and that any of these commodities should not release substitutes to Germany.
Subsequent to conference Lord Robert Cecil upon the advice of their experts desires us to state that he cannot unreservedly express concurrence in any arrangement which will permit the exportation of the stated amount of calcium carbide and calcium nitrate and desires to lodge a protest with regard to these particular commodities which he considers of great value for munition purposes. He further suggests that his expert advisers also take a strong view as to the desirability of excluding ferro-silicon. He recognizes however that if the negotiations are to be conducted in Washington the authorities there must be left discretion within certain limits to do the best they can for the Allies as a whole.
With all these proposals before you Taylor and I will approve such final settlement as you see fit to make.
See Colby’s cable to Shipping Board concerning division of tonnage which I think you will find satisfactory. Leaving for Paris.