File No. 763.72112/2717
The Chargé in Sweden (Magruder) to the Secretary of State
[Received July 11.]
Sir: With reference to the Department’s telegraphic instruction No. 74 of May 26, 1916,2 directing the Legation immediately to procure all available statistics tending to refute the contentions put forth in the British reply of April 24, 1916, relating to restraints on commerce, and to my despatch No. 637 of May 31, 1916,3 I now have the honor to report that the Swedish Foreign Office informs me that it considers it inadvisable to give out any of the desired statistics in view of the fact that they might tend adversely to affect the interests [Page 409] of Sweden, since practically all of these statistics show an increase of importation over and above the normal importation of the commodities in question. The reason for this apparent increase is, according to the Foreign Office, the fact that during normal times a great deal of merchandise is imported into Sweden from Hamburg and from the free port of Copenhagen and is listed in the official statistics as of German and Danish origin, respectively, although these countries are not the true countries or origin. It is further stated that as there is no manner of determining what part of the goods ordinarily imported from Germany and Denmark actually originates in these countries, there is no possibility of securing statistics which will not be misleading.
As a result of the foregoing attitude of the Swedish Government and of the fact (reported in my despatch No. 637 of May 31, 1916, cited above) that all statistics bearing on the subject are withheld from publication by the authorities, I am unable to supply the Department with the statistics called for in its telegraphic instruction under acknowledgment.
I have [etc.]