File No. 658.119/260
The Minister in Sweden ( Morris ) to the Secretary of State 1
[Received March 16, 4.30 a.m.]
1682. In a confidential conversation Branting has stated that in spite of German pressure, Swedish Government is still disposed to [Page 1213] make an agreement with the Entente, but desires certain concessions to appease the opposition which is manifesting itself in the technical commissions. The adversaries of the agreement claim that foodstuffs will soon be obtainable from the Ukraine and that the Allies in exchange for Swedish tonnage have only given Sweden an abstract right to make importations and have not assured her of the possibility of being able to procure the articles which under the agreement she is allowed to import. From what he said I gather that the Swedish Government would desire us to guarantee the possibility of their buying and transporting about 100,000 tons of cereals and 50,000 to 75,000 tons of fodder. While such is, I imagine, our intention, nevertheless, to make it perfectly clear an extra clause might be annexed to the agreement.
As I have previously reported, I think this a most favorable moment to bring about a change of public opinion in our favor and I feel that no reasonable opportunity to do so should be neglected.
- Paraphrased to the War Trade Board Mar. 16.↩