File No. 763.72111N83/61
The Secretary of State to the Chargé in Norway ( Schoenfeld)
435. While the Department prefers that representations to Norwegian Government regarding the barrage should not be in the form of a joint action with your British colleague, it is considered wise that you should acquaint him informally and orally with the action [Page 1782] you have already taken and such other steps as you may be instructed to take in the future.
You should nevertheless intimate unofficially but very plainly to the British Minister and others with whom you may discuss the matter that this Government is not in sympathy with the course the British Government is taking as outlined in the second paragraph of your 1040, August 21, 3 p.m., as it is important that they should understand that this Government does not wish to act in a way which can be construed as an infringement of the territorial sovereignty of Norway.