740.00112 E. W. 1939/9744: Telegram
The Chargé to the Nonvegian Government in Exile (Schoenfeld) to the Secretary of State
[Received December 4—4:20 p.m.]
18. Norwegian Series. In note of November 29, Norwegian Foreign Minister Lie requests this Mission to transmit the considerations recorded below relating to the granting of export licenses for goods ordered in Sweden totaling 920,000 Swedish crowns for rebuilding the Heroya nitrate plant. I have discussed the matter with Riefler who states that a previous request for the desired licenses has been refused by British Ministry of Economic Warfare and our OEW.27 Present note is in consequence in the nature of an appeal for reconsideration.
Tenor of note is as follows:
On July 24 last formations of United States Air Force bombed German Aluminum Works under construction on the Island of Heroya near Porsgrunn on south coast of Norway. On the same island, the Norwegian company, Norsk Hydro–Electrisk Kvaelstofaktieselskab, has a plant for the production of nitrate fertilizers. This plant is situated very close to the said aluminum works so that, although the raid was directed against the latter, extensive damage was also done to the fertilizer plant.
In view of great importance of Norwegian fertilizer production to Norwegian agriculture, Norsk Hydro shortly after the raid took up question of having its plant at Heroya repaired. For this purpose, the company would have to obtain deliveries of certain machinery and other equipment from Sweden. It succeeded in arranging necessary credits and placed a number of orders with Swedish firms. Swedish authorities have declared themselves prepared to grant export licenses but before doing so must obtain consent of American and British authorities in accordance with provisions of Anglo-American-Swedish War Trade Agreement.
On receipt of above information, Norwegian authorities took up question with MEW. Norwegian Government’s opinion is that support as far as possible should be given the Norwegian company in its endeavour to repair the fertilizer plant. In taking this view Norwegian Government has been prompted by consideration that in present circumstances, everything possible should be done to relieve the very alarming food situation in Norway.
Even before the war the greater part of Norwegian fertilizer production was sold in the Scandinavian countries and since the war started the whole production has been distributed between those [Page 494] countries. No part has been sent to Germany. Norway depended in normal times to a very large extent on imported foodstuffs and with the war preventing any food from reaching the country from outside the blockade, it is of vital importance to the loyal Norwegian population in Occupied Norway to increase home production as much as possible. For this purpose fertilizers are an absolute necessity. The part of the fertilizer production sent to Sweden and Denmark constitutes the most important means of exchange for obtaining imports of foodstuffs from those countries. Further, the extent to which the occupied countries, when liberated, are in a position to feed themselves will directly influence the burden which will be placed on the other Allied countries of procuring supplies for them after the war.
In view of the foregoing, the Norwegian Government hopes the American authorities will see their way to agree to the granting of the export licenses for deliveries from Sweden for rebuilding the Heroya factory.
Exact text of note and itemized list of orders placed with Swedish firms are being sent by special pouch.28
Copy of this message and despatch sent to Embassy London.