File No. 763.72112Sa/4

The Minister in Norway ( Schmedeman) to the Secretary of State

[Telegram]

874. Department’s telegram No. 374, July 6. Minister for Foreign Affairs informed me this morning that a delegation representing Norwegian shipowners will shortly proceed to Berlin for the purpose of discussing with the German authorities the question of safe conduct for Norwegian vessels. He stated that the main object of the visit of the delegation to Berlin is to get a definite statement of German desires in connection with these safe conducts, but that the delegation would have no power to negotiate. He added that the delegation was more particularly interested in insuring the safety of the passenger vessels Bergensfjord and Stavangerfjord. Minister for Foreign Affairs also said that Sweden and Denmark were sending similar delegates and that when the Norwegian delegation returned from Berlin he hoped to obtain sufficiently clear information to enable this Government to formulate a policy.

Schmedeman