740.00119 European War 1939/1997
The Minister in Sweden (Johnson) to the Secretary of State
[Received October 30.]
Sir: I have the honor to submit herewith the substance of a conversation which took place recently between Mr. Konstantin Vinogradov, [Page 699] First Secretary of the Soviet Legation at Stockholm, and a member of my staff.
During the course of the conversation, the subject of the rumored peace negotiations between Germany and the U.S.S.R. was mentioned. Reference was made to the numerous articles about this matter which had appeared in the Swedish press. Rumors in circulation to the effect that peace conversations between Germany and the U.S.S.R. had taken place in Stockholm were also touched upon in the conversation.
Mr. Vinogradov’s reaction to this matter was most interesting, particularly in view of the repeated reports in the Swedish press according to which the U.S.S.R. was alleged to be taking a somewhat lenient attitude in respect to possible peace conditions for Germany. While he did not say in so many words that German peace feelers had reached the Soviet Legation at Stockholm, his remarks implied that this had actually been the case. He referred vaguely to individuals who had tried to act as “agents” and “intermediaries” for Germany, and to efforts made by such persons to approach the Soviet Legation in behalf of Germany. He also intimated that attempts of this kind had been made by Axis Legations in Stockholm with which the Soviet Legation was on friendly terms. In this connection particular mention was made of the Bulgarian Legation in Stockholm.
Mr. Vinogradov stated that in all of these instances the reply of the Soviet Legation had been:
“No! No! And again No! We do not want to have anything to do with matters of this kind. The only thing that we will listen to from Germany is an offer of ‘complete capitulation’.”
He went on to say that it would not be in the interest of the U.S.S.R. to make peace with Germany on any other terms. He referred in particular to the tremendous efforts that were now being made by the United Nations to bring Germany to its knees. The second front, he said, would soon be an established fact whereupon Germany would be brought into a much more difficult position. Moreover, there would be absolutely no point in giving consideration to a separate peace with Germany at this time when the victorious Soviet armies were rapidly regaining the U.S.S.R. territory that had been overrun by the Germans.
In view of the fact that Mr. Vinogradov in all previous conversations has been evasive and that he usually is very close-mouthed, limiting his replies to quotations from speeches by Stalin or Molotov, there is reason to believe that the foregoing remarks may be the result of instructions from Moscow. This question has probably been asked members of the Soviet Legation so frequently of late that instructions were necessary.
Respectfully yours,