840.48 Refugees/3761: Telegram
The Minister in Sweden (Johnson) to the Secretary of State
[Received April 21—10:47 a.m.]
1281. Mr. Adler-Rudel54 who is returning to London tomorrow has had conferences this week with Boheman and Secretary of Social Welfare Moller. Boheman’s attitude he claims is much more cooperative than before Cabinet meeting last Thursday, he presumes because of instructions from Prime Minister as Acting Foreign Minister. Boheman now claims Sweden will do what it can without prodding” from American and British Governments, as he previously had suggested might be necessary (see Legation’s 1235, April 17, 2 p.m.55).
Boheman suggested instead of attempting to bring children only from Polish area that Germans might be more likely to permit them to be evacuated from the Low Countries and other western areas. Adler-Rudel says that if children can be evacuated from anywhere he will not urge concentration on any particular area but he considers that physical condition of children in Polish area to be worse than elsewhere. Social Welfare Minister Moller claimed that Sweden would be unable to finance feeding, housing and other expenses for children in Sweden, consequently should this scheme prove effective Adler-Rudel will attempt to obtain funds in Great Britain and America. He feels much encouraged by attitude of Boheman and Cabinet but there is a very long road to follow before any real results can be obtained.