File No. 763.72119/2491
The Minister in Norway ( Schmedeman ) to the Secretary of State
[Received 7.34 p.m.]
The Minister for Foreign Affairs handed me today a memorandum which reads in translation as follows:
According to a telegraphic information from the Norwegian Legation at Petrograd the Russian Commissaire for Foreign Affairs, Chicherin, has inquired whether the Norwegian Chargé d’Affaires at Petrograd was willing to request the Norwegian Government to act as intermediary in negotiations between the Bolshevik Government and the Allied Powers. Mr. Chicherin stated privately that the Bolshevik Government was prepared to make far more concessions to the Entente Powers in order to arrive at an understanding and that, for this purpose, it is particularly desired that an opportunity be afforded it to enter into negotiations with the United States.
Chargé d’Affaires Prytz has requested the Norwegian Government to ascertain privately whether the Allied Powers would be willing to enter into such negotiations and has asked for a telegraphic reply.
An identical note has been handed to the Allied Ministers by the Minister for Foreign Affairs who stated to me that the Norwegian Government will be glad to transmit any reply from our Government.