740.0011 European War 1939/2210: Telegram
The Minister in Norway (Harriman) to the Secretary of State
[Received April 15—9:23 a.m.]
60. From Cox. After calm night, air raid warning signals were sounded at 12 o’clock. German Legation denies report that it ordered evacuation of City by 12 o’clock. No Foreign Office officials at present [Page 150] in Oslo Foreign Office. The Quisling Government has sent out proclamation published in morning press that after Great Britain had violated Norwegian neutrality by mining Norwegian territorial waters meeting no opposition other than empty protest from Nygaardsvold Government the German Government has offered the Norwegian Government its peaceful help but Nygaardsvold Government ordered general mobilization and has itself fled. Proclamation continues that it was the duty and right of National Union Party to take over government power and has done so in a government with the following representatives: Vidkun Quisling, head of Government and Foreign Minister; Berger Meidell, Minister of Church and Education; Gulbrand Lunde, Minister of Social Affairs; Albert V. Hagelin, Minister of Trade and Supplies; Tormod Hustad, Minister of Agriculture; K. Skancke, Minister of Labor; Frederik Prytz, Minister of Finance, and Major E. Hvoslef, Minister of Defense.
Proclamation requests Norwegians remain calm in saving Norway through crisis.
Situation is very confused as many people evacuating Oslo fearing hostilities will take place. Rumors are rife of approaching military action. [Cox.]