740.00112 European War 1939/8898: Telegram
The Ambassador in the United Kingdom (Winant) to the Secretary of State
[Received July 15—9:15 p.m.]
4617. The following has been sent to Stockholm, 205, July 15, 10 p.m.
Reference your 2184 and 2185, July 13, to Department, repeated to London as your 376 and 377.
1. Prytz was received at the Foreign Office this afternoon to present communications which were the subject of the telegrams referred to above. Representatives of Embassy and MEW were present.
2. Sir Orme Sargent made following comments which had previously been agreed upon between Foreign Office, MEW and Embassy:
British and American Governments welcome Swedish decision to denounce transit agreements; desire however information regarding precise date on which cessation of transit traffic will take place; welcome Swedish acceptance of Anglo-American proposals regarding escorts and Falsterbo Canal traffic; note Swedish intention regarding transit of oil and additions to list of Axis war supplies but desire to know whether in fact transit of all these commodities will be definitely terminated before October 1st; desire to know whether Swedish intention to endeavor to diminish nonwar material transits means that the value of such transits will be limited to 120,000 tons per annum before October 1st; assume that since the Swedish communications raise no other specific points the texts of the draft declarations and letters drawn up in London, as subsequently supplemented and amended in Mr. Riefler’s letter to Prytz of July 9,75 are accepted by the Swedish Government and that as soon as transit traffic is closed draft letters and declarations will be signed; desire to know whether in the meantime Sweden would agree that all three parties should act in all particulars as though above-mentioned documents were already in force; note omission of mention of trawlers and desire to know whether, if the Germans close the Göteborg traffic before delivery is completed, Swedish Government in retaliation would withhold delivery of the balance of trawlers or, alternatively, would the Swedish Government in such case be prepared to requisition the trawlers for their own use; note with regret that Swedish communications do not mention conclusion of charters to the War Shipping Administration of the free Swedish ships which are already long overdue and ought [Page 790] to be completed immediately; and stress that we desire to receive at once Swedish replies on all above points.
3. Prytz agreed to telegraph foregoing to his Government tonight and added that he had already noted omission of charter question and had telegraphed yesterday, urging that the necessary steps for conclusion of the matter be expedited.
- Mr. Riefler’s letter not found in Department files.↩