File No. 657.119/303
The Norwegian Minister on Special Mission ( Nansen) to the Secretary of State
Mr. Secretary of State: The Norwegian steamer Kim has been held at Norfolk since December 12 being refused cargo license in transit by the War Trade Board. She carries a cargo of oilcakes for the Norwegian Government from Buenos Aires. Her cargo consists of about 4,300 tons cottonseed cakes and about 4,300 tons rapeseed cakes and a small lot of about 63 tons earthnut oil in cases, which goods all are sorely needed in Norway where there is absolutely scarcity of feedingstuffs since our imports of oilcakes from this country were stopped. S.S. Kim left this country in September for Buenos Aires to take the above specified cargo for Norway [Page 1129] and before being allowed to clear from here she had to give a guarantee of return to the United States of America, but at that time no mention was made that she would be likely to be held here with her cargo on her return or that she might not be allowed to proceed to Norway. I will not omit to state that if any such intimations had been made she would not have proceeded to Argentine for this cargo.
During the month of October the Norwegian Government contemplated sending two more steamers to Argentine for grain and feedingstuffs but on that occasion I was informed that those steamers on return to this country might not be allowed to proceed with their cargoes to Norway unless an agreement between Norway and United States at such time had been concluded. I consequently made other arrangements for those boats.
On the return of S.S. Kim to United States of America in December the bunker license as well as cargo license was applied for and the bunker license was granted on December 15, while the cargo license was refused by the War Trade Board. Later the bunker license has been revoked.
S.S. Kim has now been idle in this country for about two months at an expense to the Norwegian Government of $220,000. The steamer is one of the largest and most valuable Norwegian ships with a capacity of about 10,000 tons and every day she is idle increases greatly the scarcity of tonnage which I think under the present circumstances by all means should be avoided.
S.S. Kim proceeded in good faith to Buenos Aires returning to [this] country according to the guarantee given and I now take the liberty to put this matter before you asking the favor to have the steamer released and allowed to proceed to Norway with her cargo. I think there are several good reasons for such friendly attitude outside of the existing treaty to which I have not appealed.
Hoping at your earliest convenience to be honored with a favorable reply to this my respectful request and assuring you that such accomodating action will be greatly appreciated by
Yours very sincerely,