740.00112A E.W./8–2644: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in the United Kingdom (Winant)
6933. Reurtel 6965, August 26. Department agrees that persons listed for trading with the enemy should not as a general rule be deleted at this time merely on basis of their willingness to abstain from such activity. We agree that such deletions would weaken our warnings regarding post-war treatment of persons who assisted the enemy and would tend to create an impression that listing is not a matter of serious concern. You will recall, however, that it was agreed with Dingle Foot during discussions held in the Department that a post-hostilities list would be greatly reduced in size.77 Department continues of that opinion and believes that reductions should come about by gradual deletions of persons listed for minor violations who now display a repentant and cooperative attitude rather than by sudden large-scale deletions on the termination of hostilities. Therefore, although we concur in the suggestion for an instruction to the missions along the lines suggested in the final sentence of your penultimate paragraph, Department believes Committee should bear in mind the objective of gradual reduction in the lists and act favorably upon cases of relatively insignificant violations even though a distinct advantage to the United Nations is not present.
Department agrees that this policy should be extended to all neutral European countries. It clearly is applicable to Turkey, and military developments and demands now being made on Sweden and Switzerland78 qualify those countries for like treatment.
- See memorandum of June 2, p. 173.↩
- For documentation covering Anglo-American negotiations with Sweden and with Switzerland for the cessation of exports to German-occupied Europe, see vol. iv, pp. 456 ff. and pp. 706 ff., respectively.↩