File No. 657.119/331a
The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Great Britain ( Page)
6523. For Sheldon [from War Trade Board]:
No. 87. The following is for your information and very confidential. Following note verbale was delivered by us to Nansen today:
There would appear to be only a few outstanding points between the letter of the War Trade Board of December 19 and the Norwegian reply of February 2. It is suggested that these outstanding points might be cleared up by an agreement to the effect that exports to the Central Powers should be limited to the articles as appearing in the statement which has been handed to us as a complete list of [Page 1128] actual exports (excluding fish) for the partial year to May 1917. It is suggested that these exports be allowed in proportional quantities subject to the general limitations agreed to in the Norwegian letter of February 2 and to the following specified limitations:
| Calcium carbide | 8,000 | tons a year; |
| Calcium nitrate in blocks | 8,000 | tons a year; |
| Ferrosilicon | 1,000 | tons a year; |
| Iron ore | 40,000 | tons a year; |
| Zinc | 1,000 | tons a year; |
| Aluminum | 40 | tons a year; |
| No domestic animals or products thereof: | ||
| No old metals: | ||
| No nitrogen compounds other than specified above: | ||
| No molybdenum; | ||
| No pyrites. | ||
If after the conclusion of the agreement Norway should desire to export to the Central Powers further articles not mentioned or additional quantities of those limited, this would be sympathetically considered if the necessity should be shown therefor but no such exports would be made without prior written agreement with the War Trade Board.
If the Norwegian Government will accept these modifications of our proposal of December 19 and grant power to their representative to negotiate and execute a definitive agreement the War Trade Board will conclude the arrangement.
At time of delivery, it was stated orally to Nansen that the above memorandum was without reservation the last word of the Board to Norway upon this subject, and that if the Board’s proposal as modified, should not be accepted by Norway, the negotiations would be terminated and the embargo continued in full force. Repeat in full to Christiania.