611.5731/72
Memorandum by the Assistant Secretary of State (Sayre)
The Minister of Norway called to see me this morning in order to inquire whether the Department was yet ready to begin conversations with reference to the negotiation of a reciprocal bargaining treaty with Norway. I informed him that the Department had the matter in mind but that it was not yet prepared to begin conversations owing to the press of work in connection with conversations being carried on with certain of the South American countries. I asked the Minister how long it would take for his Government to prepare a list of desiderata in connection with such a treaty. He replied that such a list could doubtless be prepared in about three weeks. He said that Norway would be particularly interested in whale oil and in fish. He also made inquiries concerning the discussions which are being carried on in connection with the increasing of wine and liquor quotas during the four months’ temporary period.