740.00112 E.W./9–1844: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in the United Kingdom (Winant)
7664. Although an inconsistency may appear between the Department’s 754285 and its 7560, September 16, 10 p.m. (your 7683, September 18, 1 p.m.86) they are, in fact, closely related. Provided the President approves, this Government intends to take strong measures against Sweden because of its failure to terminate all trade with Germany. Should Sweden persist in refusing to reorient its policy, these measures will be continued beyond the end of the war in Europe. By having Sweden a party to the Inter-Allied Shipping Agreement, we would be able to exercise direct control, until war conditions end, over all Swedish shipping. In the absence of such control, the ability of Sweden to acquire essential raw materials would be materially facilitated, in as much as the ship-warrant scheme would appear to be wholly inadequate (your 7633, September 16, 3 p.m.).
The Department recognized the possibility that Sweden might interpret an invitation as signifying a change in our attitude toward her and therefore was able to obtain the agreement by WSA to delay, for a period of 3 weeks, the issuance of an invitation in the hope that Sweden would reorient its policy toward Germany. This has not occurred and since the Planning Committee will undoubtedly discuss the status of Sweden, it has been deemed necessary to run the risk of a possible misinterpretation by Sweden because of the importance of the primary objectives involved.
An additional reason for having Sweden adhere to the Shipping Agreement arises from the fact that Norway, fearing the competition of “free” Swedish shipping, attempted to condition its acceptance on Sweden being also bound by the Agreement.