File No. 600.119/205

The Swedish Commercial Delegates ( Lagercrantz, Nordvall) to the Secretary of State

Memorandum

In view of the food situation here, and the impression conveyed by many newspapers, that the neutral countries of Europe are draining [Page 1023] the supply of the United States, and thus threatening a serious condition in this country, we desire to make the following statement:

The Swedish Government took entire charge of the grain situation in that country early in 1915, and since then the stocks of grain, as well as the sale and distribution thereof, have been under the control of the Swedish Government. All purchases of grain for human consumption have been made by the Royal Swedish Victualling Commission, and all purchases of this commodity have been made by the authorized agent of that commission in New York. The last contract for food cereals in the United States was placed by this agent on the 27th of last January, and since that time no further purchases have been contracted for in this country.

Because of shipping restrictions it has not been possible to export these purchases, and the wheat has been and is now stored in elevators here.

It is true that in some cases it has been necessary to exchange old wheat for equal quantities of the new crop, and these are the only transactions made for Swedish account since the 27th of January.

We have not been in the American market for any further quantities of food cereals since the beginning of the year, and, although there is great need in Sweden, we have felt that it was advisable to postpone all further purchases until the attitude of the United States toward exportation should be made clear. We have no desire whatever to create difficulties for the United States Government, and have scrupulously avoided any premature action that might so result.

We have now stored in elevators in this country, for Swedish account, purchased before the 27th of January, 1917, less than a million and a half bushels of wheat altogether.

An embargo has been laid upon all exports of cereals from Sweden, and no licenses for such export are given to anyone.

  • H. L. F. Lagercrantz
  • A. R. Nordvall