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

740.58112A/138: Telegram

The Ambassador in the United Kingdom (Winant) to the Secretary of State

London, April 11, 1944—8 p.m.
[Received April 11—5:25 p.m.]

2941. For WT.²⁷

1. MEW cabled British Mission, Stockholm, urgently today to withhold submission to JSC April 12 of Joint United States and British reply to Swedish protests on Allied listing pending further instructions from London. Reference Embassy’s 2842, April 7 repeated as 116 to Stockholm.²⁸ This action seemed advisable in view of statement in first paragraph of proposed joint reply to JSC (see Embassy’s despatch 14086, February 25²⁸) repeating assurances given in December 1942 to Swedish Government that Swedish firms are not listed merely on account of normal trade with the enemy. Embassy and MEW believe it undesirable to give such assurance now in view of current ballbearing negotiations.²⁹ Also in view of statement in Secretary’s speech April 9 regarding neutrals’ [relations] with enemy,³⁰ any such assurance might prove inconvenient if it were decided to adopt a more vigorous listing policy in an effort to implement the Secretary’s speech.

2. Embassy and MEW believe that position with respect to answering Swedish protest should now be reconsidered. Embassy feel that in view of possible change in general policy with respect to trade of neutral countries with enemy and length of time which has elapsed since Swedish protest first submitted to JSC in November, it may be desirable to forego answering Swedish protests.

3. Please instruct Embassy as soon as possible.³¹

Repeated to Stockholm as 124.

Winant

27. Division of World Trade Intelligence.
28. Not printed.
28. Not printed.
29. For documentation on Anglo-American negotiations with Sweden for cessation of Swedish exports including ballbearings to German-occupied Europe, see vol. iv, pp. 456 ff. For an official British account, see Medlicott, The Economic Blockade, vol. ii, pp. 479–497.
30. With respect to the neutrals, Mr. Hull spoke, in part, as follows: “We have scrupulously respected the sovereignty of these nations; and we have not coerced, nor shall we coerce, any nation to join us in the fight.… We ask them only, but with insistence, to cease aiding our enemy.” For complete text of speech entitled “Foreign Policy of the United States of America”, see Department of State Bulletin, April 15, 1944, p. 335.
31. In telegram 3095, April 18, midnight, to London, the Department instructed that no reply should be made to the Swedish protest against listing. It also agreed with all other points raised by the Embassy in this telegram (740.58112A/136).