File No. 658.119/286

The Minister in Sweden ( Morris ) to the Secretary of State

[Telegram]

1787. British, French and Italian Ministers are sending following telegram to their Governments:

The Allied Ministers, being of the opinion that the Swedish Government will not sign the draft agreement without the consent of Germany, which consent will not be given, consider it in the interest of the Allied Governments, particularly having regard to military operations now in progress, to adopt the following course of action:

(1)
To inform the Swedish Government that if the agreement is not signed within, at the most, one week from the delivery of the Allied demand the Swedish tonnage will be requisitioned.
(2)
The day preceding the requisitioning a complete résumé of the draft agreement should be published in Allied capitals and telegraphed to Sweden in order to inform public of the terms offered by us and refused by the Swedish Government. Should the Swedish Government publish the Allies’ demand prior to its expiration, the résumé of the agreement should immediately be published here; the résumé should therefore be telegraphed here in advance.
(3)
When a communication announcing the requisitioning is made to the press, the Allied Governments should at the same time state that they are still prepared to negotiate with the Swedish Government for the importation into Sweden of cereals, fodder, and other merchandise.

The Allied Ministers presume that in Such future negotiations no compensation would be offered for tonnage.

In regard to the position of the Ministry now in power in Sweden it would seem that vis à vis the Conservatives its position would not be damaged by such action of the Allies, as it would not have voluntarily parted with the tonnage but would merely have submitted to a requisition.

For the same reasons Sweden may avoid the fulfillment of the German threat to sink Swedish vessels because of the conclusion of an agreement with the Allies.

Finally, the possibility of nevertheless receiving foodstuffs, though upon new conditions, should prevent any excessive outburst of public indignation in Sweden.

I do not wish to subscribe to the above telegram as I have doubts as to what may be the results in Sweden of the action recommended.

[Page 1215]

I do, however, feel that there is little probability of the agreement being signed within the next few weeks and therefore send my colleagues’ telegram for the Department’s information. Copy sent to Sheldon in London.

Morris