850d.00/359: Telegram

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

1615. Minister for Foreign Affairs informed me confidentially today that it has been tentatively decided by Foreign Affairs Committee of the Storthing and by the Government to instruct the Norwegian Minister at Paris to make representations to representatives of the Associated Governments there with a view to having sovereignty over the island of Spitzbergen accorded to Norway. Minister for Foreign Affairs added that when the matter was finally decided he would advise me of nature of the proposed representations. Repeated to Am[erican] Mission as number 35. Copy to London.

Schmedeman