Foreign Relations of the United States: Diplomatic Papers, 1944, General: Economic and Social Matters, Volume II

740.00112 EW/11–2844: Telegram

The Acting Secretary of State to the Ambassador in the Soviet Union (Harriman)

Washington, November 28, 1944—5 p.m.

2746. British intend to deliver a communication to the Russians¹⁶ relating to the extension of existing war trade agreements with Sweden, Switzerland, Spain, and Portugal to secure compliance on the part of these governments with requirements of economic warfare and to ensure that the economic operation of these countries after cessation of hostilities in Europe shall not conflict with our interests. (You may obtain text of communication from your British colleague.)

We have concurred in principle in the proposals put forward in the communication.

When your British colleague has been instructed to deliver the communication, you should concert with him in delivering on behalf of United States Government a communication in the following sense:

Consideration of the extension of existing wartime agreements with the neutral countries of Portugal, Spain, Switzerland, and Sweden has been raised by the British Government with the United States Government. The purpose of the extension of these agreements is to secure continued economic warfare objectives and, upon the cessation of hostilities in Europe, to ensure that the economic operations of the aforementioned European neutrals will not conflict with the interests of the United Nations.

The proposals of the British Government in this respect, which have been communicated to the Russians, are approved in principle by the United States Government.¹⁷

(True reading of this communication may be obtained from your British colleague.)

Sent to Moscow, repeated to London as Department’s 9962.

Stettinius

16. See memorandum of November 11 from the British Embassy, supra.
17. In telegram 4583, November 30, 8 p.m., the Chargé in the Soviet Union informed the Department that on that date he had addressed a note to the Soviet Foreign Office informing the Soviet Government of concurrence by the United States in the British proposal concerning the extension of war trade agreements with the European neutrals (740.00112 EW/11–3044).