811.731/935
The Secretary of State to the Norwegian Ambassador (Morgenstierne)25
The Secretary of State presents his compliments to His Excellency the Ambassador of Norway and has the honor to refer to a conversation on July 1, 194226 between Mr. Morgenstierne and Mr. Dean Acheson, Assistant Secretary of State, regarding the suspension by the Chief Cable Censor of a number of telegrams establishing credits in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Mexico and Uruguay on behalf of the Norwegian Shipping and Trade Mission for the purchase of supplies by Norwegian Government agencies.
In accordance with the assurances given by Mr. Acheson, the Chief Cable Censor has now been notified that the Department of State has no objection to the clearance of the cable traffic which was the subject of the conversation referred to above. Mr. Hull understands the traffic in question was cleared by the Censor on the evening of July 1.
Mr. Hull also informs Mr. Morgenstierne that in so far as the Government of the United States is concerned, the Royal Norwegian Government will, of course, have a full and equal voice in any discussions among the United Nations having as their aim the working out of plans for the organization of post-war relief.
In connection with the question of Norwegian participation in discussions of post-war relief problems and the question of the clearance [Page 115] of the above-mentioned cable traffic, Mr. Hull understands that Mr. Morgenstierne, on behalf of his Government, has undertaken
- First, that until some joint solution for post-war relief problems can be worked out by the United Nations, but in any case for at least a month or so, the Norwegian Government and its agencies will postpone further purchases of supplies for post-war use;
- Second, that information regarding the details of the purchase orders which were the subject of the above-mentioned cable traffic and which is now on its way from London will be given to the Department of State when received by the Norwegian Embassy;
- Third, that in order that appropriate arrangements may be made with the censorship authorities, no further credits involving Norwegian purchases in any of the American Republics will be opened by the Norwegian Shipping and Trade Mission without prior consultation with the Department of State; and
- Fourth, that supplies which have been purchased by the Norwegian Government for post-war use and which are not immediately required for the Norwegian merchant marine or the Norwegian armed forces, will be made available whenever required for the common war effort of the United Nations. In this connection, Mr. Hull has noted that at a meeting of the Inter-Allied Committee on Post-War Requirements held in London on June 17, 1942, Mr. Raeder on behalf of the Norwegian Government expressed his Government’s generous willingness to make available at cost price, in the currency paid, any goods acquired, if these are needed for war purposes.
Mr. Hull takes this opportunity to assure Mr. Morgenstierne that the Department of State continues to be ready, whenever requested by the Norwegian Government, to render all possible assistance in the procurement of supplies immediately needed by the Norwegian merchant marine or armed forces.