357.116 M 82/4

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

No. 286

Sir: I have the honor to enclose herewith copies of correspondence exchanged with the Foreign Office,43 relative to the refusal of Norwegian visaes to Mormon missionaries holding passports issued to them as citizens of the United States.

Senator Reed Smoot, who visited Norway last summer, called my attention to this discrimination against members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and asked that I take the matter up with the Norwegian Government. I did so, requesting that the present practice be changed and that hereafter visaes be granted to Mormons desiring to enter Norway.

[Page 255]

The Department of Justice and Police has now taken favorable action on my note, reversing its previous decision, when the question was submitted through the Norwegian Legation at Washington.

I have [etc.]

Laurits S. Swenson
  1. Not printed.