Foreign Relations of the United States Diplomatic Papers, 1940, General, Volume I

740.00112 European War 1939/1303

The British Ambassador (Lothian) to the Secretary of State

Washington, April 6, 1940.

Dear Mr. Secretary: I received instructions last night from Lord Halifax⁸ to communicate the enclosed message to you for your personal information.

Lothian

[Enclosure]

As a result of a review by the Supreme War Council of the situation created by the German methods of warfare at sea and by German intervention in Scandinavia during the Soviet-Finnish war, notes were communicated on April 5th by His Majesty’s Government in the United Kingdom and the French Government to the Swedish and Norwegian Governments drawing attention to the fact that the latter have been deprived of liberty of action in foreign affairs through German pressure and that the Allies can no longer afford to acquiesce in Germany obtaining vital war resources and facilities from Sweden and Norway, and notifying them frankly of certain vital interests and requirements which the Allies must assert and defend by any means necessary.

Actions contrary to these vital interests would be:

(a) Any refusal to facilitate Allied assistance to Finland against further attack by either the Soviet Union or Germany, and still more any attempt to prevent it.

(b) Any exclusive political agreement with Germany or any Scandinavian alliance providing for acceptance of German help, even if designed ostensibly for the defense of Finland.

(c) Any Soviet attempt to obtain from Norway a footing on the Atlantic seaboard.

(d) Any refusal, withdrawal or curtailment of essential facilities in matters of commerce and shipping, which it is not unreasonable for a neutral government to concede to the Allies.

In addition:

(e) The Allies, who are waging a war for aims as much in the interests of the smaller States as in their own, cannot allow the course of the war to be influenced against them by advantages derived by Germany from Sweden or Norway, and reserve the right to take measures to prevent Germany from obtaining these.

The notes point out that Germany already violates Sweden and Norwegian rights, destroying shipping in disregard of international law and of the loss of life involved, while the Swedish and Norwegian Governments cannot secure redress. The Allies will never follow this example, and if and when they have to take special measures, it will be to establish principles which the Scandinavians would themselves wish to see prevail, and upon which the very existence of the smaller States of Europe ultimately depend. These objectives can only be obtained by the victory of the Allied cause.

8. British Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs.