857.01/55
The British Ambassador (Lothian) to the Secretary of State
Dear Mr. Secretary: As I told you this morning, I have had a telegram from the Foreign Office referring to the possibility that the German Government may succeed in establishing a German puppet government in Oslo with some plausible appearance of constitutional form, including the deposition of King Haakon. His Majesty’s Government [Page 177] trust that they may assume that such a government would not receive any recognition from the Government of the United States.
Apart from general questions my Government attach particular importance to the matter in view of the part now being played in the Allied war effort by the Norwegian mercantile marine which is managed from London by a Norwegian Shipping Mission acting under the authority of King Haakon’s Government in England. His Majesty’s Government are therefore most anxious to be sure that the United States Courts would not countenance any attempt by a German controlled government to requisition or otherwise interfere with Norwegian ships in United States ports.
I have been instructed to bring the matter informally to your attention and to enquire whether His Majesty’s Government can be confidentially reassured on the point.
Believe me [etc.]