File No. 658.119/315

The Ambassador in Great Britain ( Page ) to the Secretary of State

[Telegram]

9475. War Trade Board [from Sheldon]:

No. 416. My No. 408. Swedes very anxious to change programme mentioned by having the boats leave Sweden in ballast direct for Plate; other conditions remain the same. Foreign Office thinks it very desirable to grant this concession for political reasons; do you agree? Please cable reply, urgent. The main inducement for Sweden to come to a definite agreement with us is owing to the great shortage of cereals, the lack of which is becoming more apparent in Sweden daily, and any arrangements like the foregoing, which will show the Swedes that there is a chance of getting grain quickly should an agreement be signed, I think, are extremely advisable to make, outside the added advantage there is of getting ships outside Swedish waters.

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