850d.00/373
The Minister in Norway ( Schmedeman ) to the Secretary of State
[Received December 9, 1919.]
Sir: I have the honor to report that the Foreign Minister has informed me that the Norwegian Government has accepted Spitzbergen on the conditions named by the Supreme Council at Paris. He stated a short time ago that a telegram had been sent to the Norwegian Minister at Paris requesting information as to whether or not the interpretations of certain sections of the Protocol as made by the Norwegian Government were correct. The Minister at Paris replied stating that the interpretations which had been given to the sections in question were in accordance with the meaning of the Supreme Council.
[Page 77]Great satisfaction is expressed here by the press and the public over the fact that Spitzbergen will come under the sovereignty of Norway, and the Minister for Foreign Affairs requested me to express the appreciation of the Norwegian Government through him of the friendly attitude shown by the United States in enabling Norway to acquire possession of the archipelago.
Enclosed herewith is a clipping with translation taken from Tidens Tegn of November sixth,58 which indicates the general feeling of the Norwegian people towards the acquisition of the new territory.
I have [etc.]
- Not printed.↩