611.573/42
Memorandum by the Secretary of State
The Minister of Norway called and brought up the question of the United States tariff on whale oil, stating that his country was much disappointed about it. He said that their sales to the United States amounted to several million dollars annually and the producers of [Page 653] whale oil were among the important purchasers of American automobiles and other goods. I replied that the State Department had done all in its power to prevent the enactment of this measure and that we would watch every opportunity to secure its modification. He then inquired if it would not be possible under the treaty rights of Norway for my Government in some way to suspend temporarily the operation of the whale oil tariff? I told him I did not know, but that I and my associates would cheerfully investigate this point.