840.50/4124/6: Telegram

The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in the United Kingdom (Winant)

2091. The Norwegian Prime Minister and the Norwegian Minister to the United States17a called upon Assistant Secretary Acheson on May 11. In the course of the conversation the Norwegian Minister read a telegram from London, which in effect stated that the British Government objected to the Norwegian Government’s placing any further military or civil orders in this country except through the British. It was also stated that this position had the concurrence of Mr. Steyne of the American Embassy. The Norwegian Minister was disturbed by this telegram and believed that it was intended to alter existing lend-lease procedures now used by the Norwegian authorities.

Acheson stated that he believed the Norwegian authorities had misunderstood what was said and that the communication related to the placing of orders in this country and South America by the Norwegians for use after the war. He stated that what he thought was intended was to request the Norwegian authorities not to place such orders until a broad program for the United Nations for postwar [Page 108] relief could be worked out and submitted to all the governments concerned, but that, if the Norwegian authorities felt it necessary to take some action prior to that time, they would consult with the British and American purchasing authorities.

Your 2532 of May 918 received after the above mentioned interview confirms that the above interpretation of the communication was correct and the Norwegian Legation will be so informed.

Hull
  1. Wilhelm Munthe de Morgenstierne.
  2. Telegram No. 2532 was received on May 9, a Saturday, and was not distributed in the Department until May 11.