858.6363/94: Telegram
The Minister in Sweden (Johnson) to the Secretary of State
[Received 10:31 p.m.]
2125. Judging from information given me by British Minister25 some hitch or misunderstanding appears to have occurred at London during course of present negotiations for increase in oil quota for Sweden. Mallet informed me that under instructions from London [Page 350] he had told Foreign Office American authorities were insisting Sweden give an undertaking to extend no additional credits to Germany beyond those already given as a condition precedent to securing additional oil quotas. According to Mallet, Boheman26 told him that he was wrong, that they knew from Böstrom27 that there were no obstacles in oil negotiations coming from Washington. Mallet communicated further with British Foreign Office which came back with a categorical statement that American authorities were insisting on this new undertaking on part of Sweden. Today Gunnar Häglöff28 informed officer of Legation that later report from Swedish Legation in Washington led Foreign Office to believe that upon supplying of certain additional statistical data requested by American authorities of that Legation a week ago question of future supplies of petroleum products would be clear and Sweden could continue her imports. Additional data requested was cabled yesterday according to Häglöff. Mr. Häglöff appeared to be somewhat fearful, nevertheless, that this request for statistics was step in a program of obstacles desired by British Government in line with their threat last June that no further petroleum products would be made available to Sweden unless transit of German troops and material back and forth between Norway and Germany were reduced.
For my confidential information I would appreciate a telegraphic statement of facts from Department.