File No. 657.119/447
The Minister in Norway ( Schmedeman) to the Secretary of State
[Received May 7, 9.45 a.m.]
706. War Trade Board from Dye:
Your telegram No. 301, May 4, 5 p.m. The Allied Trade Committee in Christiania is now organized and working. We have taken all tentative steps in the matter of reorganizing the trade associations which we can take pending the receipt here of the text of the agreement. At a meeting of the Allied Trade Committee this morning, it was decided that separate new associations should be organized to control each of the following lines which are given in the [Page 1185] order of their importance: (1) machinery; (2) textile goods; (3) hemp, jute, flax; (4) leather and manufactures thereof; (5) tobacco; (6) fresh fruit; (7) dyes, drugs and brush-making fibers. The Machinery Importers’ Association is practically organized but never had any agreement with Great Britain. Pending the signing of an association agreement we would recommend that we allow a limited quantity of machinery to come forward on the written approval of the association given to us.
British Legation is rather insistent that we should agree that the associations should send their representatives to London to sign the association agreements there, stating that the Allied Blockade Committee would have to pass on them there anyway. This Legation has refused to commit itself on this point, simply saying that we must wait until get the text of the agreement. As soon as the agreement is received we shall telegraph you our views on that point. We assume the text of the agreement will make clear whether we are to make separate association agreements with the War Trade Board, or simply adhere to the British agreements when renewed. London advised.