740.00112 European War 1939/998.6: Telegram

The Secretary of State to the Chargé to the Norwegian Government in Exile (Schoenfeld), at London

6. Norwegian Series. The Norwegian Ambassador recently called on the Department under instructions of his Government to press for a reconsideration of our decision with respect to [Page 1194] the Norsk Hydro case referred to in your no. 2, January 19. The Ambassador was informed that the appropriate authorities of this Government who had originally decided against permitting the export to Norway from Sweden of the equipment required to rebuild the Norsk Hydro plant had just reconsidered the matter upon learning of the strong feelings with respect thereto of the Norwegian Government. The Committee felt, however, that its original decision should stand unless new evidence were presented and in this connection we would be very glad to receive information regarding any other considerations involved in the matter which his Government might care to present. He was informed that the original decision was based upon the considerations in points numbered 1 through 7 in our telegram no. 6862 of November 111 to London which were read to him in toto. It was further explained to the Ambassador that it was the feeling of the Committee that it must proceed on the assumption that the Germans would destroy this plant when they were forced to leave Norway and it was hence illogical to assume that the plant if reconstructed at this time would be available for Norwegian use after the Germans departed. Furthermore, if the plant were reconstructed at this time Norwegians would not be able to obtain any benefit of increased harvests this year as it must be assumed that even if the plant could be reconstructed quickly enough the Germans would destroy the harvest when they left. It was pointed out that if the plant were reconstructed the exportation of the products thereof to Sweden would increase the amount of exchange available to the Germans for purchases in Sweden and that the Germans obviously would use such exchange to purchase products not for the use of the Norwegian people but for their own use in building fortifications, etc.

The Ambassador said his Government laid great stress on the alleged fact that the plant had been bombed in the first place by mistake. He reasoned that therefore there should be no objection to the reconstruction of the plant. It was pointed out to him that it did not necessarily follow that even if the plant were not the objective of this particular bombing mission it was not a legitimate target for bombing when opportunity afforded.

The Ambassador seemed impressed by the arguments advanced against reconstructing the plant at this time. He said that he had received no details of the reasons why his Government was so anxious to reconstruct the plant and would have to report his conversation and ask for further instructions.

Hull