File No. 657.119/172a
The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Great Britain ( Page )
[Telegram]
Washington
,
December 8, 1917, 6 p.m.
5993. Our No. 19. Following for Taylor from War Trade Board:
Your cable 7th concerning our Norwegian proposal received. Board has received from Nansen following, dated 7th, to which board asks your suggestions and copy of which please send to Foreign Office.
The Norwegian special mission has now received the Norwegian Government’s answer to the proposals contained in your note of November 27.1
- 1.
- The Norwegian Government regret for important reasons not to be able to accede to your proposal that the 48,000 tons of fish and products of fish for export to Central powers should be measured in terms of fresh fish. For the sake of control it is absolutely necessary to have the quantities stipulated in export weight and thus avoiding the possibility of dispute. The Norwegian Government must therefore maintain the proposed 48,000 tons fish and fish products export weight, but are willing to guarantee that the export of “klipfisk” (i.e., salted dried fish) and “torfisk” (i.e., dried fish) shall not exceed 8,000 tons a year in all, and canned fish goods, if you so desire, shall not exceed 15,000 tons. It has not been the presupposition of the Norwegian Government that all export of fish oils [Page 1082] and train oils should be excluded, but they are willing to guarantee that the total export to Germany of such oils shall not exceed 300 tons per annum.
- 2.
- The Norwegian Government cannot agree that Norwegian compensation for manufactured copper received from Germany should be limited to crude or refined copper but must reserve the right to give such compensation in copper, copper ore, pyrites containing copper and purple ore, as stipulated in our agreement with Great Britain. The concessions made by this agreement are so considerable that the Norwegian Government feel confident that they will also satisfy the American Government.
- 3.
- The Norwegian Government are willing to agree that the
export to the Central powers of—
- (a)
- Calcium carbide shall not exceed 15,000 tons per annum;
- (b)
- Ferro-silicon shall not exceed 4,000 tons per annum;
- (c)
- Molybdenite shall not exceed 50 tons per annum.
- 4.
- The Norwegian Government regret to have to maintain the proposed right to export 18,000 tons calcium nitrate to Central powers.
- 5.
- In the case of an agreement being concluded the Norwegian Government are willing to guarantee that the following articles shall not be exported to Central powers: antimony, bismuth, manganese, mica, nickel, tin, titanium and wolfram.
- 6.
- The Norwegian Government guarantee not to export to Germany any foodstuffs of any kind except the fish and fish products mentioned above.
- 7.
- The Norwegian Government must reserve the right of export from Norway of any other article than those mentioned above. It would seriously affect our position if the American Government should demand that all goods not specially mentioned should not be allowed to be exported to the Central powers.
- 8.
- The Norwegian Government consider it absolutely necessary in case of an agreement being concluded that the American Government not only undertake to grant export licenses but that as regards the most important articles the quantities required for the needs of our people are guaranteed.
- 9.
- All licenses to be granted under the agreement shall be understood to include all and every license for goods as well as tonnage necessary to move the goods to Norway.
- 10.
- It is further the understanding of the Norwegian Government that the shipment of goods licensed by the United States Government according to the agreement shall not in any way be hindered, held or seized on the part of the Allies.
- 11.
- It has been the supposition of the Norwegian Government that the agreement should be valid for the duration of the war but if this should not be agreeable to the American Government they propose to conclude the agreement for one year from the date of signature with mutual rights of 3 months’ notice of termination after such period.
Lansing