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

740.0011 European War 1939/25287: Telegram

The Chargé in Sweden (Greene) to the Secretary of State

Stockholm, November 5, 1942—midnight.
[Received November 6—9:55 a.m.]

3133. In conversation with Acting Secretary General of Foreign Office this afternoon he stated following:

1. Reply to September 19 note from Soviet Government to Swedish Minister at Kuibyshev⁴⁰ (see my 2741, October 2, 7 p.m. second paragraph) was delivered yesterday. Telegram from Swedish Minister received today states it was apparently well received by Foreign Office and matter would seem to be allowed to drop. Foreign Minister in his speech at secret session of Riksdag yesterday referred to this exchange and stated it was his belief that Russia in notes (first was July 26) had brought matter up as a counter-attack to Sweden’s protest for submarine activities earlier in year. Communist members of Lower House made statements in which they appeared to agree with Foreign Minister on this point. Translations of all notes in this exchange by next air mail.⁴¹

2. Foreign Minister following his discussion of situation in Norway during his speech was questioned as to why the Government maintained no Legation with Government in London. Minister explained Sweden still has a Swedish Minister to Norwegian Government, John Beck-Friis now acting as Chargé d’Affaires in Lisbon, and that it is practically only Government still permitted to maintain a Consul General in Oslo. Last summer Germans gave Sweden until July 11 to withdraw its Consul General, Sweden protested against this in a note to German Government to which no reply has been received but no action has ever been taken to force Consul General to leave. Government feels absolutely sure that if Beck-Friis was sent to London in his capacity as Minister to Norwegian Government that Germans would then insist on withdrawal of Consul General. This would be a serious blow to 10,000 Swedes living in Norway and would cause great inconvenience to Swedish Government including loss of valuable information concerning conditions in Norway. Count Douglas of staff at Oslo at time of invasion accompanied Norwegian Government as long as it remained in Norway and was not invited to accompany it to London. No further steps therefore seem advisable to Government with respect to Norway and this explanation appeared to be accepted by House.

3. While no definite news received concerning Scavenius’⁴² visit to Berlin (he was only there one day) Foreign Minister stated to Riksdag that conditions in Denmark seemed to be very serious. Söderblom while he has had no official information has learned through fairly reliable sources that demands with respect to Danish Government have been received. He will let me know when something more specific is learned.

4. Since publication of last trade agreement with Finland which was much less favorable than previous years Finnish attitude toward Sweden has improved which is gratifying to Swedish Government as it feared less favorable conditions would stimulate hostile news comments and public opinion.

5. He admitted for first time that during visit of Schnurre during last summer a request had been made to send a number of ships with German troops through Swedish waters and that Sweden had been able to dissuade Germany from sending troops in that manner although international law permitted it. This was done in face of very strong German pressure.

6. During Söderblom’s absence on leave last August Boheman in conversation with Schnurre requested latter to cut down shipments of war material and other freight through Sweden to Norway and Denmark. This Schnurre agreed to do but when Söderblom returned he found that there had been in fact no reduction. He then made arrangements with Germans which would permit no greater total than limits requested in Hambro’s⁴³ letter to Gisle attachment “A” enclosure “1” London’s despatch 5985, October 20, 1942.⁴⁴ This is being limited by control of number German freight cars allowed on railways which are being carefully checked by Swedish authorities. See also first paragraph my 2741.

Greene

40. Per Vilhelm Gustaf Assarsson.
41. Not printed.
42. Erik Scavenius, Danish Minister for Foreign Affairs.
43. Sir Charles Hambro, British member of Combined Raw Materials Board.
44. Not printed.