763.72119/2726: Telegram

The Minister in Norway ( Schmedeman ) to the Secretary of State

1363. I am reliably informed that the Norwegian Government hopes that its representatives will be enabled to participate in the forthcoming Peace Conference in which the Norwegian representatives would advance the views of this Government: (1) on all matters affecting the interest of Norway, particularly with regard to the freedom of the seas; (2) on the wish of Norway to join the League of Nations; (3) and on this Government’s desire to assume sovereignty over Spitzbergen. The foregoing three points are considered by the Norwegian Government to be of paramount importance to Norway and will be strongly pressed.

This Government also hopes to receive compensation for Norwegian tonnage lost during the war and that Germany will be obliged to indemnify for the loss of life among Norwegian seamen.

Negotiations are understood to be going on with a view to obtaining Swedish and Danish support for Norwegian claims in return for which Norway will support the claim of Sweden to the Aaland Islands and Denmark claim to Schleswig.

It is anticipated that formal representations along these lines will soon be made by the Norwegian Government to the belligerent Governments.

Schmedeman