Foreign Relations of the United States: Diplomatic Papers, 1942, Europe, Volume II

868.48/3004: Telegram

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

Stockholm, April 30, 1942—8 p.m.
[Received May 1—2:42 a.m.]

1019. My 973, April 27, 8 p.m.³⁵ Boheman, Secretary General Foreign Office, asked British Minister and me to see him today. He gave us a draft translation of German reply which has just been received to proposals for Greek food relief. Following is text furnished by Foreign Office.

“The German Government have taken ad notam that the British and United States Governments on an appeal from the Swedish Red Cross have declared themselves willing to give free passage, including free return to Swedish ports, for Swedish ships which are to be placed at disposal for the transport of wheat and flour to the Greek civil population.

The German Government in this connection understand:

(a) That the Swedish ships until their return to Swedish ports shall [not?] only be safeguarded against prize courts proceedings but also against any other seizure,

(b) That the Swedish ships may not, during the time they are being used in the interest of the Greek population, be used for any other purpose by the other belligerent party and that they will return to Swedish ports immediately after the termination of the aforesaid activity,

(c) That the assurances given by the British and United States Governments are also valid with regard to their Allies.

If the above mentioned assumptions are correct the German Government define as follows their attitude towards the details of the Swedish relief plan.

1. The German Government are prepared to give instructions to its armed forces not to interfere with the Swedish ships transporting wheat and flour to Greece, either on the outward or on the return voyage. The German Government will, in agreement with the Swedish Government, draw up a plan for the practical arrangements in detail. They wish, however, already now to point out that the exigencies of war may make it necessary for the shipments to take place from other than Canadian and North American ports. In order to get the plan working as soon as possible, the German Government are prepared temporarily also to allow shipments from the North American continent.

2. The German Government have no objection to the distribution of the foodstuffs imported to Greece under the scheme being handled by a commission of Swedish citizens and to the due control by this commission of the distribution. In that connection it may be pointed out that the relief work already carried out for the benefit of the Greek population is placed under the control of a special commission, consisting of one representative each from the International Red Cross Committee, the German, Italian and Greek Red Crosses. This commission is responsible for the just distribution of the imported commodities of every kind to the distressed Greek population. It works to the satisfaction of all parties concerned. In order to avoid the overlapping of the activity of two different commissions and to ascertain a proper distribution of all commodities imported to Greece under different relief schemes, it seems advisable that a close collaboration should be established between the Swedish commission and the above mentioned commission of representatives of the International Red Cross, et cetera.

3. The German Government are in agreement with the condition that the foodstuffs imported to Greece from overseas under the Swedish relief scheme should be exclusively reserved for the Greek population. In view of the complicated geographical structure of Greece, communication with the many small isles situated in the operative areas of the sea and air forces of the belligerent parties is extremely difficult. The Swedish commission will therefore have no practical possibilities of control in those islands. In the view of the German Government it would therefore be advisable, in order to ensure the smooth functioning of the Swedish plan, that the distribution of foodstuffs be limited to those districts, which can be visited and which belong to the most distressed areas, viz. the Greek mainland, the Peloponnesus, and the Island of Crete.

The German Government are in agreement with the condition, that foodstuffs produced in these areas should be reserved for the Greek civil population. This should however not exclude in the normal exchange of goods. The German Government argue that the Royal Swedish Government continue their discussions concerning the relief scheme with both belligerent parties in order to arrive at an agreement about the details. The German Government also find it expedient that the Swedish Red Cross, as suggested, gets into touch with the International Committee of the Red Cross.

As the Swedish plan does not mention any specific length of time for carrying out the proposed scheme, the German Government assume that the work is intended to be carried out for an indefinite period until one of the participants might be forced to terminate its cooperation on account of unforeseen circumstances.”

See immediately following telegram.

Johnson

35. Not printed.