800.85/11–644: Telegram
The Minister in Sweden (Johnson) to the Secretary of State
[Received 7:25 p.m.]
4542. My 4364, October 26, 5 p.m., 1408, November 2, 10 a.m. to London.24 The report that the Russians have intimated to the Swedish Government that they would prefer the Swedes not to enter the shipping pool was confirmed last night by the Norwegian Foreign Minister, Mr. Trygve Lie, who, however, added that he believes he has persuaded the Swedish Foreign Minister, Mr. Gunther, that Sweden cannot afford to stay out of the pool. In this connection Mr. Lie said he had informed Mr. Gunther that the Norwegians had offered the Russians 25 ships but that the Russians had-not taken advantage of the offer. Mr. Lie added that he made it clear to Mr. Gunther that the [Page 727] Norwegians would not understand Sweden’s staying out of the pool and profiting at the expense of its neighbors. It is Mr. Lie’s impression that both Mr. Gunther and Mr. Boheman (my 4461, November 1, 9 p.m., 1407 to London) are in favor of Sweden’s joining the pool but that private Swedish shipping interests are bringing strong pressure to the contrary.
My 1440, November 6, 6 p.m. repeats this to London.