CLAIM PRESENTED BY THE GOVERNMENT OF NORWAY

MESSAGE

FROM

THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES

TRANSMITTING

REPORT FROM THE SECRETARY OF STATE RELATIVE TO A CLAIM PRESENTED BY THE GOVERNMENT OF NORWAY FOR PAYMENT OF INTEREST ON CERTAIN SUMS ADVANCED IN CONNECTION WITH ITS REPRESENTATION OF AMERICAN INTERESTS IN MOSCOW

JANUARY 5, 1928.-Read; referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations and ordered to be printed

To the Congress of the United States:

I transmit herewith a report from the Secretary of State in relation to a claim presented by the Government of Norway for the payment of interest on certain sums advanced by it for this Government in connection with its representation of American interests in Moscow, and I recommend that an appropriation be authorized to effect a settlement of this claim in accordance with the recommendation of the Secretary of State.

THE WHITE HOUSE,

January 5, 1928.

The PRESIDENT:

CALVIN COOLIDGE.

I have the honor to bring to your attention the request made by the Norwegian Government for the payment of interest on certain sums advanced by it for this Government in connection with its representation of American interests in Moscow.

The facts of the case may be briefly stated as follows:

In September, 1918, the Government of the United States requested the Norwegian Government to take charge of the protection of American interests in Moscow, stating that it would reimburse the

Norwegian Government for the expenses incurred in carrying out this request.

The Norwegian Government accordingly authorized its vice consul at Moscow to assume protection of American interests at that place. Various expenses were incurred by the vice consul in connection with his protection of American interests, and the Norwegian Government, by December 8, 1920, had paid him the sum of Kr. 65,162.97, representing the amount of the expenses incurred by him with interest to the date of payment. The Norwegian Government thereupon requested reimbursement by this Government of the sum of Kr. 65,162.97, with interest to the date of such reimbursement.

Due, in part, to the difficulty experienced by this Government in obtaining proper documentary evidence of the expenditures incurred by the vice consul, reimbursement was not made until July 13, 925, when the Comptroller General of the United States allowed the Norwegian Government the sum of Kr. 65,162.97, the amount paid by it to the vice consul, but disallowed the claim for interest.

The Norwegian Government, in acknowledging the receipt of the sum allowed by the Comptroller General requested that interest also be paid.

Because of the fact that reimbursement was not made until nearly five years after the funds had been advanced by the Norwegian Government, it is the view of this department that this Government should pursue a generous course in recognizing the assistance rendered. it by a friendly foreign government in a time of emergency.

The interest claimed amounts to approximately $4,000, and I have the honor to recommend that the Congress be requested to authorize the appropriation of this sum in payment of the Norwegian Government's claim as an act of grace and without reference to the question of the legal liability of the United States.

A summary of the essential facts regarding the case being embodied in this communication, it is deemed unnecessary to accompany it with copies of the correspondence in the case. All or any part of that correspondence will, of course, be furnished should you or the Congress so desire.

It should be added that this claim was brought to the attention of the Sixty-ninth Congress in a message from the President dated April 23, 1926, printed in House Document No. 343, Sixty-ninth Congress, first session, and that House Joint Resolution No. 246, Sixty-ninth Congress, for the payment of this claim, was introduced on May 25, 1926, and was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs. No action was taken by the committee on this resolution.

It will be observed from the inclosed communication from the Director of the Bureau of the Budget, to whom the matter was referred, that the proposed action is not inconsistent with the financial program of this Government.

Respectfully submitted.

DEPARTMENT OF STATE,

Washington, January 4, 1928.

FRANK B. KELLOGG.

BUREAU OF THE BUDGET,

Washington, December 28, 1927.

MY DEAR MR. SECRETARY: I have your letter of December 22, 1927, inclosing copy of a proposed report to the President recommending again that the Congress be requested to authorize an appropriation of $4,000 in settlement of the claim presented by the Norwegian Government for the payment of interest on certain sums advanced by it for this Government in connection with its representation of American interests in Moscow, and asking whether the action proposed in the report is in harmony with the financial policy of this Government.

In reply I have to advise you that the proposed request for legislation authorizing an appropriation of $4,000 for the purpose stated is not in conflict with the financial program of the President.

Sincerely yours,

H. M. LORD, Director.