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

857.48/12–744: Telegram

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

Stockholm, December 7, 1944—9 p.m.
[Received 11:55 p.m.]

5024. Reference London’s 776, November 29, 7 p.m. to Legation, sent Department as London’s 10557⁸² and Department’s 2426, December 4, 8 p.m. to Legation, repeated London as Department’s 10159.⁸³ Relief supplies to northern Norway. German authorities have refused safe conduct for Swedish vessel to Tromso. According to Swedish Foreign Office Germans claim to have evacuated practically all refugees in Tromso to central and southern Norway (please see in this connection Legation’s 5020, December 7, 7 p.m.⁸⁴). Question of safe conduct vessel therefore is not actual for present. Norwegians here admit that situation has eased. Legation will keep Department informed if question is reopened or other plans of this nature are promulgated by Swedes.

Swedes have been informed of Anglo-American approval to send relief supplies by rail to Narvik area. Swedes are presently investigating necessity of setting this plan in motion now or in future and will submit for prior JSC approval quantities and kinds of goods to be sent and details of distribution controls.

My 1626, December 7, 9 p.m., repeats this message to London.

Johnson

82. Not printed; it informed the Department that discussions had been held with the Ministry of Economic Warfare regarding the Swedish proposal for relief to northern Norway and that it was doubtful that the British Admiralty would be able, for operational reasons, to grant the necessary safe conduct for sea voyages from Tromso to Narvik. However, the Ministry of Economic Warfare had approved the shipment of relief supplies by rail from Sweden to Narvik, and had also approved the evacuation of refugees from Narvik to Sweden by rail. (857.48/11–2944)
83. In this telegram the Department signified its agreement to the proposals outlined in London’s telegram 10557 (see footnote 82, above). (857.48/11–2944)
84. Not printed; this telegram described the reported evacuation of some 20,000 of the 50,000 refugees in northern Norway and reported that on the basis of these reports the Swedish Government believed that “its earlier conception of the brutality of the German evacuation of the Norwegian population of the north was only slightly exaggerated.” (857.48/12–744)