811.114 Bodo/12: Telegram
The Minister in Norway (Biddle) to the Secretary of State
[Received November 22—1:30 p.m.]
27. Department’s telegram No. 17, November 18, 5 p.m.77 and No. 18, November 20, 5 p.m. Owner of Steamship Bodo and Oslo agents have been placed on notice by Norwegian Minister of Commerce and [Page 442] by American Consulate General that Shaw the charterer of vessel may endeavor to use it for purposes illegal under Norwegian law despite provisional time contract providing that Bodo shall not be used for unlawful purposes. Oslo agents promise to warn captain to resist any attempt to use vessel for smuggling.
I have approached proper officials of the Ministry Foreign Affairs who have induced above action by Minister of Commerce. However, the Foreign Office doubts authority under the law to instruct Norwegian Consul General Antwerp to withhold sailing documents from Bodo in the absence guarantee that cargo will be landed at declared destination. Bodo now at Newcastle, England but is about to proceed to Antwerp. While I have met no categorical refusal from the Foreign Office of further cooperation I believe that its officials will not take further action in the hope that owner Bodo will cancel contract or demand guarantee from Shaw.
- Not printed.↩