File No. 658.119/81
The Minister in Sweden (Morris) to the Secretary of State
[Received November 4, 2.25 a.m.]
947. I wish to report that the feeling of resentment towards America among a large part of the Swedish population is increasing daily and this feeling, which is now becoming one of bitterness, is manifested and stimulated by the Swedish press in articles which deal with American subjects, such for example as the press stating that they receive letters from Swedes who have come from America, that Swedish subjects are against their will being drafted into the American Army. One also experiences this anti-American feeling in public as occasion and opportunity arise. This, as I previously cabled, is due primarily to the cutting off of Sweden from food supplies. As I cabled before, the prices of food and living have become beyond all reason and even the necessities of life have become beyond the reach of many, while many articles of food are practically unobtainable. I am informed by people who have made a study of the prices in various countries throughout the war, that the food prices of Sweden are higher to-day than exist in any country in the world.
This feeling above mentioned is helped along by German propaganda as the Germans take every advantage which arises towards increasing the bitterness. In connection with embargo on exports to Sweden I would respectfully refer again to my 8341 and would again emphasize that I do not believe it is practicable or feasible to try and have Sweden discontinue entirely their trade with Germany. Even with the new Administration, which I believe to be kindly disposed to the Allies, I do not think they would entertain a proposition of entirely cutting off export to Germany and in trying to do so it would increase the feeling already existing which I have described. However, I do not believe that in the future even with an adjusted food embargo great advantage can be gained in Sweden for the Allies most of which advantages Germany has heretofore received. It is also interesting to know that I am reliably informed that Sweden has now contracted for three thousand tons lubricating oil from Germany and it is probable that Sweden will try to continue making arrangements for further supplies of other commodities from Germany, all of which tends towards making the relationship between Sweden and Germany more intimate.