File No. 658.119/170
The Ambassador in Great Britain (Page) to the Secretary of State
[Received 8.51 p.m.]
8336. War Trade Board [from Sheldon]:
No. 50. At the request of Foreign Office, I agreed to the following proposal for modus vivendi which was made to Swedish representatives. …1
If this proposal accepted do you intend have one-half chartered for the United States and one-half to British excepting Jemtland and Österland? It occurs to me if you do, the British may ask that one-half the Dutch boats secured on modus vivendi be chartered to them and therefore it would be advisable to arrange. You should charter all Dutch boats in American ports and have the Jemtland and Österland return to you for a round trip and let the English arrange with French and Italians for the 100,000 tons Swedish ships which are to go in danger zone. Please give instructions quickly.