File No. 763.72119/101
The Minister in Norway (Schmedeman) to the Secretary of State
[Received December 24, 9 p. m.]
48. Ford peace party arrived at Christiania 19th and left this morning for Stockholm. They were received with courtesy by Norwegian people but obtained no official recognition of Government. Attitude of greater portion of Norwegian press in Christiania sceptical and ridiculing, especially resenting Mrs. Schwimmer’s participation. She appears consequently to have refrained from speaking in public. Minister for Foreign Affairs informs me that he received a telegram from her requesting audiences, etc., but he replied that nothing could be done otherwise than through my office. She telegraphed to me in a similar manner and I referred her to the Department.
Speeches were made by some of the members before the Norwegian Students” Association and at a public meeting in the large mission hall from which nothing tangible could be gathered beyond the following plans expounded by the secretary of party as follows:
Peace party expects to take with it ten representative members each Denmark and from Norway, Sweden, Holland, respectively, and to meet at The Hague delegates of Spain and Switzerland, then to choose from the various representatives from three to five delegates of each neutral country to be left as a permanent committee for international mediation in one of the Scandinavian countries or The Hague to consult with and receive the views of the belligerents in order to settle a basis for permanent peace. I have had no information that any Norwegian representatives were found.
During the whole sojourn of party in Christiania Mr. Ford was said to be ill with influenza and as far as I know was seen by no one but a few journalists and a Norwegian doctor. Since departure of party I have been informed by Norwegian doctor who attended Ford that he has returned incognito to America on the Bergensfjord sailing to-night, on account of illness, leaving necessary funds with party.