711.572/31
The Norwegian Minister (Bryn) to the Acting Secretary of State
My Dear Mr. Acting Secretary of State: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your note of to-day’s date in reply to my note of 7th ultimo regarding the desire expressed by my Government to extend the Treaty of Commerce and Navigation of July 4, 1827, which had been denounced by the United States Government on February 2d, 1918. My Government proposed the extension of the treaty for successive periods of three months until a new treaty could be concluded.
You state that such arrangement would imply a modification of the provisions for the termination of the treaty contained in its [Page 52] Article XIX, and that such arrangement is not susceptible of being executed on the part of the Government of the United States, there being no provision in the laws of the United States for such procedure.
You are good enough to state that the Government of the United States, in order to accede to the wishes of the Norwegian Government as far as possible, suggests that the solution of the matter may be effected by the withdrawal on the part of the Government of the United States of the notice of denunciation of this treaty, except as to Articles XIII and XIV, so that the existing Convention, except Articles XIII and XIV, shall remain in force, as to Norway, until a new notice is given in accordance with its provisions.
You therefore ask me to acknowledge that the Government of the United States has formally withdrawn the denunciation contained in the note of the American Minister at Christiania of February 2, 1918 to the Norwegian Foreign Office, except as to Articles XIII and XIV of the treaty, and that consequently the Treaty of Commerce and Navigation of July 4, 1827, except Articles XIII and XIV, which will expire on February 2, 1919, remains as to Norway in full force and effect.
On behalf of the Norwegian Government I have hereby the honor to acknowledge that the Government of the United States has formally withdrawn the denunciation contained in the note of the American Minister at Christiania of February 2, 1918 to the Norwegian Foreign Office, except as to Articles XIII and XIV of the treaty, and that consequently the Treaty of Commerce and Navigation of July 4, 1827, except Articles XIII and XIV, which will expire on February 2, 1919, remains as to Norway in full force and effect.
I am [etc.]