340.1115A/2553: Telegram
The Minister in Switzerland (Harrison) to the Secretary of
State
Bern, April 15, 1942—11 p.m.
[Received April
15—5:52 p.m.]
1530. American interests—exchange ships. Department’s 927, April 13
and 937, April 1478
and Legation’s 1512, April 14.79 Following is the substance of
telephone conversations the Swiss Foreign Office has just had with
its Legation at Berlin:
[Page 358]
- “1. The German authorities deny any complications in
the negotiations for the exchange of diplomats and state
they are willing to grant at once safe-conduct for Drottningholm if the United
States gives assurances which they consider lacking up
to now that German nationals may be repatriated when
that ship sails from New York for Göteborg after
completing its exchange voyages.
- 2. Three lists of American citizens in Sweden and
Finland to be repatriated presented by the Swiss
Minister at Berlin (originating from the American
Legation at Stockholm) have been approved by the German
authorities but the American Legation at Stockholm
continues to submit further lists to the Swiss Minister
at Stockholm for communication to the German
authorities. Inasmuch as all lists must be approved by
not one but many German governmental departments, the
submission of further ones necessarily leads to
delay.
- 3. The German authorities are of the opinion that it
is better for the moment not to bring up the question of
chartering the Gripsholm. This
may, however, be done once the Drottningholm has sailed for New York.”
In regard to point 2, it would undoubtedly facilitate matters if the
Legation at Stockholm were instructed not to accept further
registrations of American citizens for repatriation on the Drottningholm.
