War Trade Board Files: American-Norwegian Agreement, Vol. II
The Norwegian Minister on Special Mission ( Nansen) to the Chairman of the War Trade Board ( McCormick)
My Dear Mr. McCormick: In view of the possibility of a general agreement being reached my Government have cabled me the following communication referring to the proposed schedule of commodities handed to me by the War Trade Board on January 18 and 24 last:1
Under the now prevailing scarcity of foodstuffs and other commodities in the world, the Norwegian Government consider it a matter of course that also Norway must reduce her demands for supplies to what is strictly necessary, and the following observations are made out from that point of view.
We accept the proposal of 300,000 tons of bread-grain including rice, but we must point out that if wheat or rye are substituted by barley, 1.4 tons of barley would, as already mentioned on a previous occasion, be required for each ton of wheat or rye. We accept 10,000 tons of meat and pork, 50,000 tons of sugar, 1,000 tons of starches, 1,400 tons of cocoa (but would, however, appreciate to see this quantity somewhat increased), 14,500 tons of coffee, 160 tons of tea, 80 tons of sauces and pickles, 5,000 tons of syrup (but would be very thankful for somewhat more), 382 tons of spices, 4,000 tons of dried fruit, 6,000 tons of fresh fruit. We notice that it is proposed to let us have 10,000 tons of vegetable and animal oils and fats and 20,000 tons of oil-seeds for our seed crushing plants, and we accept this, assuming that only oils and fats for food are meant, and that in these quantities are not included the oils required for the canning industry, the products of which are chiefly reexported to the United States and their associates. We also suppose that the stocks of oils and fats now in Norway have already been considered when the above-mentioned quantities were fixed, and that such stocks shall consequently not be deducted from the quantities given. We accept 76,500 tons mineral oils. Of oilcakes and Indian corn, the quantities of which the War Trade Board do not give, we need altogether 180,000 tons if the importation of grain is reduced to 300,000 tons. The stocks of imported fodder are at present very small; of oilcakes there is practically nothing in the country and of Indian corn not more than 2,000 or 3,000 tons. The War Trade Board give no quantity for rock phosphate. We need at least 40,000 tons. We accept 500 tons rubber, etc., but think this quantity is small and presume that tires and rings of automobiles and bicycles are not included in this quantity. We accept 110 tons silk yarn and tissues, 8,000 tons cotton raw, yarn and manufactures, 3,700 tons wool, wool yarns and products. Besides this we need at least 6,500 tons flax, hemp, jute and tow (raw material and products). We accept 800 tons corkwood, 80 tons borax and boric acid. 350 tons asbestos is insufficient and we would much appreciate to get [Page 1132] more. The War Trade Board offer us metals. As regards the various metals we make the following remarks: 80 tons raw tin is too little and we must maintain that we need 500 tons raw and manufactured tin as mentioned in a cablegram to the Commission in November last year. We accept 1,000 tons lead, 12 tons antimony (would much appreciate to get 50 tons). As regards iron, steel and copper the War Trade Board do not mention quantities.* We take it that the requirements of tinplates for the canning and milk-condensing factories will be duly considered; at least 30,000 tons are needed. The requirements of electrode-carbon and carbon electrodes is steadily increasing and the quantity ought not to be less than 5,000 tons. In the cablegram of November mentioned above an importation of 5,000 tons of hides and 7,000 tons of tanning extracts was intimated. We suppose that these quantities may now be reduced until 30 per cent, Norway having now developed a national industry in this field.
We note that the War Trade Board offer us machinery of all kinds, agricultural machinery included, and we conclude that our requirements in this respect will be covered. The same applies to fixtures, motorcars, motortrucks, bicycles, writing machines, cash registers, accounting machines, hardware and tools, chemicals, dyes, colors, drugs, medicines, resin, tobacco, tanning extracts, shoes and rubbers. We mention the following quantities of some of these articles: paraffin wax, stearine, stearine acid and palm acid 750 tons, vegetable and mineral turpentine and white spirit 350 tons, varnishes 370 tons, shellac 68 tons, rape oil 120 tons, ceresin, carnauba-wax 40 tons, oils, not specified, 1,500 tons, resin 400 tons, tobacco 2,000 tons, shoes and boots and rubbers (mostly rubbers) 200 tons, rubber covers for automobiles and motortrucks 17,000 pieces, rubber tubes for same 8,300 pieces, solid rubber tyres for motortrucks 1,100 pieces, rubber covers for motorcycles 2,100 pieces, rubber tyres for same 2,100 pieces and further tyres forming part of automobiles being imported (“equipment tyres”).
The Norwegian Government accept the promise of the War Trade Board, that if it shall be found that the quantities stipulated are not sufficient for the needs of Norway, further quantities may be granted in addition thereto.
We take it that the quantities especially mentioned in the American proposals will be available under any circumstances, presuming that in stipulating these reduced quantities the needs of the United States and their associates as well as other neutrals have been taken into consideration.
We presuppose that the further dividing into different kinds of qualities of goods, inside the limit of the total quantities stipulated by the agreement, will, as far as certain groups of articles are concerned, be made with a view to the peculiar conditions in Norway, in a way which, for instance, will make it possible to obtain adequate quantities of the various kinds of mineral oils.
The War Trade Board observe that the stocks of imported foodstuffs and other supplies which may exist in Norway are to be [Page 1133] deducted from the quantities given. If this is to be understood this way, that goods arrived in Norway after January 1, 1918, and prior to the eventual agreement coming into force, and for which goods annual quantities have been stipulated, shall be counted in the quantities for 1918, the Norwegian Government of course agree. If the understanding should be, however, that also old stocks of imported goods shall be thus deducted the Norwegian Government venture to observe that such stocks are now considerably reduced as far as most of the goods are concerned. The Norwegian Government want, however, also in this respect as far as possible, to meet the wishes of the War Trade Board. The Norwegian Government take it that presumably no difference of opinion prevails as to the necessity of the existence in Norway at any time of not too restricted stocks of necessary articles. As a minimum the Norwegian Government believe that there should always be found in the country supplies sufficient for four months consumption. With such stocks only will Norway be secured against difficulties if there should appear irregularities or disturbances in the importation of supplies. Under the present conditions one cannot omit to consider such an eventuality. It must also be emphasized that the scattered settlement and difficult communications of Norway make an immediate use of the imported goods more difficult than in other countries. The Norwegian Government must also take it for granted that as soon as an agreement has been reached the moving of supplies to Norway shall be undertaken with the greatest possible intensity, in order to counteract the consequences of the country having now for many months to a great extent had her supplies blocked. In the United States as well as in the countries associated with them there are now lying considerable quantities of goods of the most varied kinds, which have been bought and partly paid [for] by Norwegian importers. It must be self-evident that as soon as an agreement has been concluded these consignments, thus detained, shall immediately and within the terms of such an agreement, be permitted sent to Norway. It is also evident that Norwegian importers who have bought goods, license for which shall not be covered by the agreement, shall be given an opportunity to dispose of such goods without loss.
The War Trade Board make the granting of the quantities mentioned dependent on the condition that Norway continues certain exports to the associates of the United States. In this connection the Norwegian Government refer to the statements to this effect which they have made in their note of February 2,1 transmitted by Doctor Nansen.
In transmitting the above communication my Government have requested me to express to the War Trade Board their satisfaction with the proposals submitted, which, as will be seen from the above, they accept in all essential points, and also to express the confidence of the Norwegian Government that also quantities, about which difference of opinion exists, shall during our continued negotiations be stipulated in a satisfactory way. My Government have further requested [Page 1134] me to express the confident expectation that it will also be possible to reach an understanding with regard to goods the quantities of which the War Trade Board have not in their proposals made any mention.
Believe me, my dear Mr. McCormick,
Very sincerely yours,