840.20/10–648
Memorandum of Conversation, by the Secretary of State
| Participants: | Secretary Marshall |
| Foreign Minister Lange, of Norway | |
| Mr. Hayden Raynor |
Most of my conversation with Foreign Minister Lange, of Norway, is summarized in Top Secret Telegram No. 5130, of September 30, which is incorporated by reference as a part of this memorandum. Additional points included a reference by Foreign Minister Lange to the possibility that something short of complete participation in a North Atlantic arrangement might be the best plan for Norway. He referred to something in the nature of a declaration by us that an attack on Norway would be an attack on us, with an obligation on our part to come to their assistance. He said he thought this might produce the deterrent which might be so badly needed. He then said that anything further such as complete membership might well have the opposite effect and make Norway the first point of attack. In this connection he made a strong point of their long frontier with the Soviet Union, and the impossibility of Norway being able successfully to defend this frontier.
The Foreign Minister also asked questions as to what type of help, and the extent thereof, which might be forthcoming. I described to him in detail the efforts which we were making to recondition World War II matériel so that substantial quantities may be available for distribution by the next Congress if necessary arrangements are consummated.
There was no reservation whatsoever, however, in the Foreign Minister’s statement that Norway desired at the proper time to discuss these questions with us.