800.85/11–144: Telegram
The Acting Secretary of State to the Minister in Sweden (Johnson)
2207. ReEmbs 4461, November 1, 9 p.m. If you can see Boheman informally prior to his departure for London will you bring to his attention the following points:
It was the sense of the conference in London that Sweden would be expected to accede to the Shipping Agreement which would place all Swedish tonnage subject to control by the United Maritime Authority.
If any portion of Swedish tonnage were permitted to remain free from control, it would give Swedish shipping an advantage over the other maritime nations and permit Sweden to profit at the expense of other nations whose ships remain under wartime controls so as to more effectively cooperate in the war effort and in the rehabilitation of war-torn areas.
Norway and Holland agreed not to condition their acceptance upon guarantees that their full import requirements would be met. Questions regarding programming of supplies are not within the scope or purview of the United Maritime Authority beyond the obligations accepted in paragraph 1 of the Agreement.
[Page 725]It should be emphasized that the success of the Shipping Agreement is predicated upon an adequate control of all tonnage. This control will be exercised through the warrant scheme and by such other measures as may be necessary to insure that ships under all flags are used in conformity with the purposes of the United Nations. Under the circumstances, it is hoped that Sweden will realize the advantages of cooperation through participation in the control scheme.
Sent to Stockholm, repeated to London.21
- Sent to London as telegram 9207 for Allison and Reed.↩