868.48/3145: Telegram
The Minister in Sweden (Johnson) to the Secretary of State
[Received 10:27 p.m.]
1466. My 1465, today. Boheman told us that he felt Junod had done a good job with the Italians and he urged that both American and British Governments agree to International Red Cross proposals as soon as possible. If we do Swedes will start chartering ships at once and will send Swedish representatives immediately to Athens. They will ask safe conduct for ships and for three to go at once or more if British and American Governments agree in view of long delay. Allard, Swedish Chargé d’Affaires at Sofia, will be one of members and Risberg, a Swedish subject, formerly representative Swedish Bail-Bearing Company in Athens and now Swedish Consul at Athens, another. Boheman knows Risberg personally and says he has highest opinion not only of his honesty but of his intimate knowledge of Greece and conditions in that country. Risberg has already reported to Foreign Office his opinion that it is extremely desirable for neutral commission to get to work at once. He says food now being distributed by International Red Cross is not taken by occupying authorities which on contrary are showing disposition to get it to Greek civilians but due to lack of personnel and proper supervision distribution is bad and some of it is getting to black market. Foreign Office is of opinion that adequate number of neutral personnel to be attached to commission is essential to effective supervision and they think that there should be at least 30 individuals for this purpose of whom presumably half would be Swedes and half Swiss. A careful search is now being made for suitable personnel among Swedish businessmen and in quartermaster service of the army as well as elsewhere.
Boheman pointed out that all of original conditions put forward by British Government have been fully covered by assurances given to Swedish Government by Axis Governments and he stated that performance of these conditions will be fully covered in reports which Swedish Government will make to British and American Governments. If any hitch occurs on the ground Swedish delegates will report at once and Allied Governments can take any action they see fit. Boheman thinks essential thing is to get approval and to start organizational ground work at once.
He said that there was one point that should be made clear with respect to chartering of ships. The Swedish Red Cross which is nominal charterer and Swedish ship owners are not satisfied to have [Page 764] only Greek Government as responsible party and desire what is essentially a British-American underwriting guaranty. It is important that Greek Government in London not appear in any open communication in this connection as it would only serve to make trouble with Axis.
The Italian Government has given assurances to Junod and reaffirmed these assurances to Swedish Minister at Rome that all food stuffs produced in Greece will be reserved exclusively for civil Greek population and that if there is any surplus which may eventually be exported it will be entirely compensated for by other foodstuffs imported into Greece. This communication was made to Swedish Minister at Rome on June 5.
Boheman finally pointed out that both Risberg and Allard have emphasized the necessity for motor transportation and fuel being made available to commission and that without it effective supervision is impossible. Both transportation and fuel would be unprocurable in Greece and should be sent out with grain ships. Swedes will undertake responsibility for vehicles and for their proper use, tagging them with necessary Red Cross and other emblems to insure their identity.