740.00112 European War 1939/8491: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in the United Kingdom (Winant)
Washington, May 19,
1943—11 p.m.
3183. Your 3430, May 18 and 3445, May 19.
- 1.
- Department and BEW consider it undesirable to relate the termination of the transit traffic to specific supplies of petroleum on hand in Sweden at any given moment. Consequently, we do not approve of putting forward the formula outlined in your 3430.
- 2.
- In the event, however, that the Swedes insist upon including as a part of any declaration on the subject a reference to the necessity of having petroleum supplies to resist an attack, we would have no objection.
- 3.
- Our suggestion is that we attempt to have the Swedes make a declaration that they will terminate the transit traffic when the military position of Sweden is favorable. This would of course be coupled by the definite acceptance by the Swedes that if the traffic is not terminated by, say, October first, we would be free to suspend basic rations in accordance with Boheman’s informal proposal.
- 4.
- We note from your 3445 that the Swedes are firm in maintaining legal obligations to permit transit of non-military supplies. We trust, however, that you will continue to press for the proposed ceiling on this traffic not to exceed the present rate of non-military supplies which we understand is about 133,000 tons a year. This undertaking should of course be included, if possible, in the declaration to be obtained from the Swedes with respect to the transit of military personnel and military supplies.
- 5.
- We are glad to note from your 3445 that you are also continuing to press for inclusion of oil in the definition of military traffic.
Hull