File No. 600.119/1095
The Ambassador in Great Britain ( Page) to the Secretary of State
[Received 6.35 p.m.]
810. War Trade Board [from Sheldon]:
No. 1156. Referring to your’886, Department’s 292, July 17 [18], 7 p.m., Foreign Office think the principle announced is undoubtedly a sound one to which the Swedes should not take any objection. I have talked over the matter of coffee with Mr. Morris, our Minister at Stockholm, who is now in London, and learned from him that there is considerable dissatisfaction in Sweden owing to our unwillingness to permit unconditional export of coffee previously bought in the United States. I have pointed out to him that in the covering letter to the Swedish agreement,2 paragraph 3 specifies a number of commodities which Sweden will be permitted to purchase in the United States and obtain export licenses according to rations. Some of these commodities are not indigenous to the United States and the Swedes never mentioned a desire to include coffee in this [Page 990] list. I would suggest that if the Associated Governments come to an agreement in regard to asking payment at the par value of kroner for commodities purchased in any of the Associated countries, and so inform the Swedish and Norwegian Governments, as well as any other neutral with whom we have or may have an agreement [sic]. It would be appropriate to include therewith a statement of your plan mentioned in your 886. I think no objection would be taken to these principles if great care were taken in the wording of the announcement and the application of the principles, and I suggest that you take both these matters up with the other Allied Governments.