857.85/393
Memorandum by the Assistant Chief of the Division of European Affairs (Cumming)
Shortly after the invasion of Norway by German forces in April 1940 and the establishment of the Norwegian Government in London, the Norwegian Government issued a decree bringing about governmental control and operation of the entire Norwegian merchant marine. Fortunately, only a comparatively few Norwegian merchant marine vessels found themselves in Norwegian waters and, therefore, under German control at the time of the invasion. The bulk of the merchant marine was in foreign waters and so far as is known without exception has since 1940 loyally obeyed the orders of the Norwegian Trade and Shipping Mission—the governmental agency set up for their operation. The Norwegian Trade and Shipping Mission has principal offices in London and New York and branch offices in nearly all parts of the world under United Nations control.
The entire Norwegian merchant marine under the control of the Royal Norwegian Government now established in London is engaged [Page 79] in the war carrying trade for the United Nations, primarily the United States and Great Britain. Hundreds of Norwegian ships and several thousand Norwegian seamen have been lost in the service of the United States and its allies. It is worthy of note that so far as is known, not a single Norwegian vessel or master has deserted or attempted to desert the United Nation in order to return to German-occupied Norway.
Even before the recent signature of a Lend-Lease agreement between the United States and Norway1 and prior to the entry of the United States into the war, this Government undertook to arm at its own expense all Norwegian merchant vessels operating in war zones in the service of the United Nations.
The Norwegian merchant marine, has been accorded special consideration by the United States Government, in some cases, in fact, being given greater consideration in so far as repairs, replacements, et cetera, are concerned than that accorded British merchant vessels. In this connection, please see the attached notes2 exchanged between the United States and Norwegian Governments at the time the Lend-Lease agreement was signed.
In view of the importance of the Norwegian merchant marine to the war effort of the United States and the special facilities which accordingly [have] been granted it at the direction of the President, the Department of State strongly recommends that the request of the Norwegian Embassy in Washington that a general license be issued covering bunker fuels, ships stores, and spare parts for the Norwegian vessels departing from ports in the United States be granted.