868.48/3169: Telegram
The Minister in Sweden (Johnson) to the Secretary of State
[Received 6:41 p.m.]
1694. Mallet has now had further instructions in reply to request for reconsideration mentioned penultimate paragraph Legation’s 1641, June 29, 3 p.m. He has expressed officially and orally to Foreign Office British Government’s view that it wishes further dealings to be through Swedes for obvious reasons and also because Swedish Government has given assurances that British Government’s conditions will be observed. He also pointed out that it was desired that Swedes on Committee of Action be free to insist among other things on method of distribution which would satisfy these conditions. He pointed out that it was feared that if stores from Canada went to International Red Cross in Greece rather than Sweden it might result in international body claiming a decisive vote in their disposal and causing them to treat Committee only as its agent. As it was desired however to get ships away as soon as possible British Government did not wish to be obstructive if Swedish Government felt there would be no difficulty in consigning shipment to Swedish Red Cross. Boheman of Foreign Office stated that while he wished to reflect on matter, on principle he felt that it should be perfectly possible to consign the stores to Mr. Mohn, Swedish Red Cross representative at Piraeus, who would be chairman of Committee of Action. Swedish Government would instruct Consul General in Montreal regarding details and any alteration in name of consignee if required could be perfectly well arranged later. It is hoped that ships can get away by July 12 as Germans seem about to agree although possibly there may be slight modification of route. (Boheman has not yet replied to these suggestions.)
Mallet has informed me that as a last resort he has authority from British Foreign Office to agree to consignment to International Red Cross delegate or alternatively to Committee of Action if Swedes are sure this will not frustrate British intentions and provided they find genuine difficulty in consigning to Swedish Red Cross.