740.0011 European War 1939/22300: Telegram
The Minister in Sweden (Johnson) to the Secretary of State
[Received 12:37 p.m.]
1536. Among data which Foreign Office has confidentially stated were given to Riksdag in secret session on foreign affairs yesterday were following:
Total number of German soldiers permitted to pass through Sweden from Norway and vice versa on leave averages slightly under 700 per day whereas agreement permits a maximum of 800 per day on southern route and about 400 per week on northern. In 1941 about 25,000 tons of war materials were permitted to pass through Sweden to Norway and approximately same amount to Finland on Swedish railroads (Swedes interpret war materials to be only munitions. Food, fuel, forage, etc., destined for troops is extra). Foreign Office does not consider this excessive as in course of whole year this was only equivalent of 3 or 4 ship loads whereas much greater quantities passed by sea; about 75,000 tons of Norwegian products have been permitted to pass through Sweden to Finland from Norway; never more than 100 individuals civilian and military per week pass from Norway to Finland with Swedish visas and vice versa—most of these are, however, German soldiers but two carloads which are permitted to pass by this means are seldom filled.