124.576/34: Telegram
The Chargé in Germany (Kirk) to the Secretary of State
[Received April 11—12:13 p.m.]
919. My 909, April 10, 7 p.m.20 An officer of the Embassy just spoke by telephone with Cox of the Legation at Oslo. Cox stated that the Legation was unable to make any telephone calls outside of the city. He had been filing telegrams with the local post office which was in German control and had been assured that they were going forward. His last telegram to the Department was number 66, April 10, 9 p.m. The last telegram he had received from the Department was a message received Tuesday authorizing the Legation to take over all French and British interests. He asked for advice as to whether to [Page 154] continue to file telegrams direct to the Department or whether he should send them via Berlin. It was suggested that until the situation was clarified it might be well to file them both ways.
He stated that Oslo was now quiet. There had been a considerable panic yesterday as a result of the unconfirmed report that British naval forces were in the Oslo Fjord and many people had stormed transportation facilities in an effort to leave town. This panic had now entirely subsided. He had not heard of any instance in which any American had suffered as a result of recent hostilities.
Mrs. Harriman was remaining near the Norwegian Government. She was accompanied only by her maid and by one clerk, Miss Lind-gren. He, Cox, had been able to communicate with her by telephone yesterday afternoon and she was quite well. The wives of the other Americans in the official establishment at Oslo were in the country.
The Legation had taken charge of French and British interests, had sealed the official premises in Oslo both consular and diplomatic of those Governments, and had despatched last night by train to Stockholm 18 members of the British Legation and Consulate staffs and one member of the French Legation. They had advanced funds on receipt to cover this transportation and had also received inquiries from British citizens in Norway concerning financial assistance in connection with evacuation for [from?] the country. They request funds be allotted to them for this purpose. I should like to suggest that the American Legation at Stockholm be authorized to take up this question with the British Legation there.
Cox also stated that similar inquiries with regard to funds for support and evacuation had been received from American citizens in Norway and asked for instructions on this point. He further requested information with regard to the payment of per diem to the dependents of members of the staffs at Oslo who have been evacuated from the city.
With respect to the evacuees from Berlin who are now residing at a hotel in the suburbs of Oslo he stated that they are all well and were engaged in making arrangements to leave for Berlin via Sweden at 8:10 this evening.
The Embassy has undertaken to telephone Oslo again this afternoon.
I submit for the Department’s consideration the advisability of concentrating if practicable in the American Legation at Stockholm the direction by the Department of all matters affecting the Legation at Oslo.
Repeated to Stockholm.
- Not printed.↩