740.00112 European War 1939/7290: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in the United Kingdom (Winant)
Washington, December
16, 1942—2 p.m.
6363. Department’s 6174, December 5. The present situation regarding proposed departure of the two Norwegian ships is:
- 1.
- British Embassy has informed us that the British do not propose (a) to raise the question with the Swedes or (b) to attempt to run the ships out until the very latest moment consistent with military exigencies (which is not now determinable) in order (a) to give Boheman reasonable opportunity to report to his Government after his return to Stockholm and (b) to give the Swedish tankers Sveadrott and Saturnus time to arrive in a Swedish port—now expected to be the first week of January.
- 2.
- Our present position in this matter is (a) that our commitments to Boheman prevent us from being associated with any effort to run the Norwegian ships out before the arrival of the two tankers; (b) that while we prefer to take no further steps until Boheman has arrived in Stockholm, in view of his delay in Bermuda awaiting plane we would waive this after lapse of reasonable time, and (c) that if the British are willing to proceed on the basis of (a) and (b) we would authorize the American Legation in Stockholm to associate itself with a British approach to the Swedes and to say on our behalf that we expected the Swedes to grant clearance to the Norwegian ships and that our commitments to them on the oil quota and the policy of agreeing upon other basic quotas are predicated upon such action on their part.
- 3.
- We have told the British Embassy that we hope that we can be given at least 48 hours advance notice of any démarche which may be made by the British Minister at Stockholm.53
- 4.
- Foregoing views have been given British Embassy.
Repeated by Department to Stockholm.54
Hull