800.515/796

The Norweigian Ambassador ( Morgenstierne ) to the Secretary of State

Excellency: Acting under instructions from my Government I have the honor to confirm the communications previously conveyed to officers of the Department of State and more particularly the Treasury Department, to the effect that it is the opinion and the policy [Page 1043] of the Norwegian Government [here follows statement of policy similar to those expressed in memoranda of March 30 and June 24, printed on pages 1034 and 1040, respectively.]

During recent conversations with the United States Treasury the representatives of the Norwegian Embassy have reiterated the desire that Norwegian currency be used during a possible invasion by United States armed forces. The Norwegian Ministry of Finance would have liked to obtain an assurance from the United States Treasury Department that the competent United States authorities agree to use Norwegian currency and also agree to a provisional exchange rate of 5 kroner per United States dollar. As no such assurance was received from the United States Treasury, I hereby, on behalf of my Government, venture to approach Your Excellency with a view to reaching a speedy agreement between our governments concerning the use of Norwegian currency and the rate of exchange between the Norwegian krone and the United States dollar for a possible period of invasion of Norwegian territory by U.S. forces.

On the basis of the above it can be stated that an adequate amount of Norwegian kroner can at once or at short notice be placed at the disposal of the proper United States authorities in London or at an other designated place.

I hardly need to emphasize that my Government takes it for granted that in Norway, the territory of a United Nations government, no foreign special invasion money will be sought [or] put into circulation by the authorities of any Allied government without the consent of the Royal Norwegian Government.

Accept [etc.]

For the Ambassador,
Lars J. Jorstad