611.5831/107a: Telegram

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

23. We have today informed the Swedish Legation at Washington that, if agreeable to the Swedish Government, we are prepared to enter upon reciprocal tariff negotiations with Sweden upon the return to Washington of Mr. Boström in September. Meanwhile, we requested that the Swedish Foreign Office complete the necessary studies (a) with relation to the aide-mémoire we handed them last winter,7 and (b) with relation to their own desiderata. As soon as we have been informed that this is agreeable, we shall set up a Special Committee to prepare for the Swedish negotiations.

We are anxious to keep this proposal confidential in order that if our points of view turn out to be too far apart to warrant the successful conclusion of an agreement, it may not appear that there has been an actual breakdown in negotiations.

You may discuss the foregoing confidentially with the Swedish Foreign Office.

In addition to your despatches to date, please report in detail, for the consideration of the Committee referred to in paragraph 1, (a) any recommendations you have concerning the conduct of negotiations, (b) the essential concessions or commitments for which you feel we should ask, (c) the concessions or commitments from us to which you feel Sweden is going to attach the greatest importance, and (d) any other pertinent information you may have regarding Swedish [Page 713] trade policy, commercial treaties either concluded or under negotiation with other countries.

Hull
  1. Presumably the memorandum of January 22, p. 709.