800.85/8–1644: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in the United Kingdom (Winant)
6502. Reference minutes of Conferences July 20, page 6, and August [Page 679] 2, page 7.44 It is of paramount importance that Sweden be officially advised of Allied Shipping Agreement and invited to participate as soon as possible. It is equally important that there should be no hiatus between control of Swedish ships under existing arrangements and their control under central authority and Sweden will be expected to agree to arrangements under which all Swedish tonnage now or becoming available for general trading will be under control until such time as Sweden is able to become a contracting government. (Refer to your Top Secret Telegram no. 6402, August 1045 and Department’s no. 6368, August 11.46)
Minutes of Conference of July 20 make it clear that questions regarding programing of supplies are not within the scope or purview of central authority beyond obligations accepted in paragraph 1 of Agreement. Swedish accession to Agreement does not mean that rights to control her imports are in any way forsworn and it should be made clear to Sweden that her entry into Agreement must be unconditional. There is no objection on our part to a limited deferment of joint approach for the purposes indicated in your message. However, in this connection, your number 6471, of August 11,45 indicates Swedish Government already taking affirmative precautionary action. Furthermore, it is not contemplated here that joint approach to Sweden or her acceptance of principles at this time will be made public or communicated to other than signatory governments until it is appropriate to do so.
All of these matters should be discussed with the British before action is taken.
- Minutes not printed; references are to brief discussions regarding the issuing of invitations to Sweden and other Governments concerned to participate in the agreement as soon as possible (800.85/8–1744).↩
- Not printed.↩
- Vol. iv, p. 608.↩
- Not printed.↩