Office of the Historian

740.60D112A/1a: Telegram

The Secretary of State to the Minister in Sweden (Johnson)

Washington, May 10, 1944—midnight.

878. For Gullion.39 The Department is considering the extension of the Proclaimed List to Finland principally on the basis of the assumption that the listing of a number of the outstanding pro-Axis firms may create an atmosphere of uncertainty among Finnish industrialists with regard to their future commercial relations with the United States and may possibly cause them to exert a helpful influence [Page 166] on the Finnish Government.40 You are requested to forward your comment on this proposal.

The list of firms to be added to the list would include:

1.
Firms which were included in the British Statutory List prior to the British declaration of war on Finland.
2.
Exporters to the Axis of molybdenum, cobalt, copper, wood products such as pulp and newsprint.
3.
Shipyards which have devoted their facilities principally to repairing German ships.
4.
Firms which have specialized in importing German goods.
5.
Moving picture firms and houses which have shown and handled principally German propaganda films.
6.
Firms whose Swedish subsidiaries have been included in the Proclaimed List for Sweden because of assistance to the enemy given by the parent concerns.

If you see no objection to the inclusion of Finnish firms in the Proclaimed List please cable the names of persons and firms falling within each of the above-mentioned categories (except for the first category) together with a succinct statement concerning their activities warranting listing which can be used as a basis for a recommendation to the Interdepartmental Proclaimed List Committee. With respect to names formerly included in the British Statutory List, report only on the names which you believe should not be placed on the Proclaimed List due to changed circumstances. Please indicate also any additional types of cases which you believe should be recommended for inclusion.

The Legation at Stockholm is requested to assist Gullion in preparing the report on cases recommended for listing.

Sent to Stockholm, repeated to London.41

Hull
  1. Edmund Gullion, Chargé in Finland, currently at Stockholm.↩
  2. For documentation on the failure of Finland to withdraw from the war with the Soviet Union, and the rupture of American-Finnish relations on June 30, 1944, see vol. iii, pp. 556 ff.↩
  3. As telegram No. 3757.↩