740.00112 European War 1939/140: Telegram
The Minister in Norway (Harriman) to the Secretary of State
[Received September 25—9:13 a.m.]
64. Department’s telegram No. 49, September 23, 3 p.m. On September 3 after consultation between Foreign Office, Admiralty and Shipowners Association, broadcasts were sent to all Norwegian vessels in European waters bound in belligerent ports to seek nearest Norwegian or other neutral port and await instructions from the owners. This was an emergency measure to give owners time to decide on their own responsibility whether destinations of ships should be changed or not. No specific instructions have been issued since that time. The present status, a Foreign Office official today states, is that all Norwegian vessels are free to trade with the United States and all other neutral ports and with belligerents in and outside European waters.