862.01/330: Telegram
The Minister in Sweden (Johnson) to the Secretary of State
[Received August 5—2:56 a.m.]
2422. In a general talk this morning with Boheman57 he mentioned formation in Moscow of a “Free German Committee”. He said that speaking personally it seemed to him evident that Moscow does not share entirely views of Anglo-Saxon powers regarding future course to be pursued toward a defeated Germany. Boheman appears to regard formation of this Committee as having considerable significance. He inclines to opinion that Stalin does not want a military occupation of Germany either by Russia or by Anglo-Saxon powers or by all three and that he likewise does not want Germany to be reduced to anarchy but only wishes destruction of Hitler and Nazis. If this supposition is true he thinks motives may be various and suggested following as probable:
- (a)
- That Stalin and his closest associates in high place in Russia would not desire a Communist Germany such as might result from anarchic conditions in that country in event of complete military and economic collapse, as a Communist Germany would inevitably become closely identified with Russia and due to superior German education, organizational ability and technical knowledge there might be strong tendency for shift of power from Moscow to Berlin. At least Berlin would be gravitational center in such a Communist union between the two countries that might offer a serious challenge to Kremlin’s supremacy.
- (b)
- He inclines to belief that Stalin does not want German industrial machinery completely destroyed as he would strongly desire an alternative to complete dependence on American industry for rehabilitation of Russia.
Boheman has always held strong anti-Nazi views and makes no attempt privately to conceal his satisfaction at military course of war. Future of Germany, however, and what may be Anglo-Saxon policy toward that country after defeat is a matter of great concern [Page 560] and worry to him as it must be in fact to all responsible Swedes. Boheman said that speaking entirely personally he does not believe a prolonged military occupation of Germany if such should be the plan would have satisfactory results for us. He realizes enormous difficulty of German problem and of necessity if possible of avoiding Germany’s becoming moving factor in a third world war but he does not believe there is any practical possibility through prolonged military occupation by Allies of educating German people to point where they would become reliable member of European society of nations or morally accept their defeat. Such an occupation in his view would eventually produce very result we would try to avoid. Boheman regards with apparent pessimism idea that any measures which may be taken toward defeated Germany would offer effective guarantee against ultimate resurgence of military spirit and desire for revenge. I suggested to him that we would probably be strong enough if necessary to take measures which would make impossible physical resurgence of Germany. Boheman fully realizes that fact, but said that measures necessary to effect such a result as that would be of a nature to cause Allied nations themselves to lose their own souls and would be completely incompatible with level of culture and idealism of Anglo-Saxon peoples. He evidently regards physical reduction of Germany to impotence either permanently or for indefinite period as a moral impossibility for Allied Powers.
- Erik Boheman, Secretary General of the Swedish Ministry for Foreign Affairs.↩