711.00 Statement July 16, 1937/177

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

No. 13

Sir: I have the honor to refer to the Department’s circular telegram of July 17, 1937, 2 p.m., relative to its desire to obtain an expression of view from the Norwegian Foreign Minister respecting the principles set forth in a statement made by the Secretary of State on July 16 concerning the foreign policy of the United States.

At the first opportunity, following the receipt of the above-mentioned telegram, I requested an appointment with Foreign Minister Koht, which was promptly accorded. The substance of our ensuing talk was transmitted to the Department by telegram No. 28 of July 20, 12 noon.30

In amplification of that message, it may be stated that Mr. Koht evinced very definite interest in Secretary Hull’s statement, of which he had already been apprised. He was, however, desirous of reading at leisure the text as given in the Department’s radio bulletin No. 164, [Page 714] so I supplied it to him for study. Mr. Koht indicated that the press in Oslo and elsewhere had manifested a great deal of curiosity in the Secretary’s pronouncement which newspaper men had interpreted as foreshadowing American intervention in the Far East. The Foreign Minister, on the contrary, professed to give the statement no such dramatic significance, since he did not find it menacing, but rather understood it to constitute merely a friendly warning. He had expressed this belief to the journalists who had consulted him.

Mr. Koht, moreover, showed himself altogether sympathetic with the principles enunciated in the Secretary’s statement, and had found in it nothing which could be considered not in general accord with the policy of the Norwegian Government. In his view, Norway has shown itself decidedly active in furthering a policy of peace in harmony with the principles set forth by Secretary Hull.

In regard to the economic implications of the Secretary’s observations, Mr. Koht felt that he could approve of all measures making for liberation of trade. The days of laissez faire were definitely over and some sort of governmental guidance had become indispensable. The Oslo Convention between the Northern States, the Netherlands, and the Belgo-Luxembourg Economic Union,31 with the additions which had just been accepted by his own Government, he considered as paralleling, in a measure, the trade policies of the Secretary of State, The Oslo Convention did not go so far as the Secretary seemed willing to go, and was more consultative than active. Mr. Koht, indeed, considered Secretary Hull as remarkably liberal and probably more so than the signatories to the Convention, although he, himself, was personally equally advanced in thought.

Respectfully yours,

Florence J. Harriman
  1. Not printed.
  2. Signed December 22, 1930, League of Nations Treaty Series, Vol. cxxvi, p. 341.