File No. 763.72111N83/71
The Chargé in Norway ( Schoenfeld ) to the Secretary of State
[Received August 31, 10 a.m.]
1082. I delivered to the Minister for Foreign Affairs last night the note embodied in your telegram No. 441 of August 20 [27]. After delivering the note I emphasized the following points:
- (1)
- That whereas we had previously recommended that measures be taken to prevent the use by enemy submarines of Norwegian territorial waters as a privileged channel, we now earnestly urged that they be taken in order to prevent a situation which might cause serious embarrassment to both Governments.
- (2)
- That irrespective of the friendly relations subsisting between Norway and the various powers associated with the United States in the war, we felt the relations between Norway and the United States were particularly close for special reasons, in connection with which I mentioned the esteem in which the Norwegian element in our population was held, and the special effort the United States had made to show Norway all possible consideration, especially in the negotiations that led to the War Trade Board agreement.
- (3)
- That as stated in my note the United States believed Norwegian territorial waters could justly be regarded as a base of naval operations if they are used by German submarines as a rendezvous, whence the latter can freely pass into the Atlantic Ocean for hostile purposes. Minister for Foreign Affairs rather questioned the validity of this statement; I said that so long as the Norwegians failed to prevent the passage of submarines through coastal waters, there was no essential difference between the situation created for German submarines in Norwegian waters by the protection afforded them by our respect for Norwegian neutrality, which was [restraining] us, and the situation in which submarines found themselves when under the protection of German fortresses and mine fields at their German base. Minister for Foreign Affairs admitted the force of the contention somewhat reluctantly.
He then said that he hopes soon to receive French and German replies to his inquiry as to the nationality of submarines observed in Norwegian waters as reported in my telegram No. 1037 of August 20.1 Meanwhile he had been informed by Norwegian naval authorities that the extinguishment of Utsire and Rövœrsholmen lights, reported in my telegram No. 1074 of yesterday,2 would greatly hinder operation of submarines in those waters, and accordingly the extinguishment had been ordered despite the difficulties that would be occasioned thereby for Norwegian shipping. He then mentioned the announcement made by the Commanding Admiral, as reported in my telegram No. 10732 yesterday, regarding the firing by a submarine on the Swedish steamship Irma in Norwegian territorial waters; I inquired whether this announcement was not the first ever made on the subject by the Commanding Admiral. Minister for Foreign Affairs thought that it was. Before leaving I asked whether, in case the Germans replied to his inquiry regarding the nationality of submarines observed in Norwegian waters by denying that German submarines had violated Norwegian territory, it would not be natural for the Norwegian Government then to proceed mining territorial waters as the Germans could in that case have no substantial objection to offer; he replied that he preferred for the present not to answer this hypothetical question.
The whole conversation was couched in the most friendly tone possible, and I again took occasion to point out that we desired to assist Norway to protect her neutral rights, while we only asked that at present the Norwegian Government perform its neutral duties. I have the distinct impression that we shall obtain action; at least it is being seriously contemplated, and I feel that the disposition to take the action desired by us really exists. With frank, skillful, and kindly handling of the matter, it seems to me that we may fairly expect success.