Office of the Historian

611.5731/121

Memorandum by the Secretary of State

[Washington,] June 3, 1935.

The Minister of Norway called and again expressed special interest in the negotiation of a trade agreement between our two countries. He said that he believed there was some chance for favorable legislation by Congress reducing the duty on whale oil, provided the State Department would make known to the Committee on Ways and Means its favorable attitude as heretofore.9 He added that there was a rather deep-seated feeling in his country that this duty should be reduced in order to make feasible a trade agreement.

I expressed my individual attitude on the matter and then added that within two or three days I might be able to talk further with the Minister relative to his request.

C[ordell] H[ull]
  1. In a letter dated June 5, 1935, to Representative Robert L. Doughton, Chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, the Secretary of State stated: “The President has given me authority to submit to your Committee my recommendation that H. R. 7373 be given favorable consideration” (611.573/76).↩