800.35/11–1144: Telegram
The Chargé in the United Kingdom (Gallman) to the Secretary of State
[Received November 11—5:45 p.m.]
9849. For [To?] Berle and Land, WSA, for Conway and Morse. Gunnar Carlsson arrived in London on November 9 to discuss adherence of Sweden to Allied Shipping Agreement. As a result of Foreign Office representations he was not accompanied by Boheman at this time. After consultation with Hayter, acting head of the General Department of the Foreign Office, it was agreed that it would be preferable for the initial talks with Carlsson to be held with Weston of MWT and Brown of MEA and thus be confined purely to the Shipping Agreement. It was felt that if the Foreign Office and Embassy was represented it would be easier for the Swedes to bring up broad supply questions which neither the British nor we wish to discuss at this moment.
The following is Brown’s summary of three conferences which have been held at Ministry of War Transport. Weston is bringing copies of informal memoranda used at the discussions. Brown’s report of the meeting as well as additional copies of the memoranda are being forwarded by air pouch. Allison was told at the Foreign Office this [Page 729] morning that Boheman was pressing to come to London in the near future but that it was hoped to persuade him to postpone his trip still further.
Summary begins.
Conferences with Carlsson have been highly satisfactory. They have shown Sweden is anxious to accede to the Agreement on Principles and does not want to be in a position of remaining outside and seeming to take advantage of other contract in [contracting] governments. Carlsson states they are prepared to bring all their tonnage under the Agreement provided they can make recommendations as to its use for their own import needs and that any alterations in their recommendations would be subject to mutual agreement and not be decided by vote. They recognize that situations may arise where the Swedish recommendations will have to be altered in the common interest. We have pointed out this is quite in accord with the Agreement on Principles.
Sweden would, however, wish to make two reservations:
- (1)
- Swedish tonnage could not be used for carriage for troops to theatres of war or direct military cargoes. Swedes propose that the clause relating to transportation of military cargoes and transportation for war purposes which is in the Anglo-Swedish tonnage agreement of 1939 should be included in any document covering Swedish accession to the Agreement on Principles.
- (2)
- They state they would not be able to requisition all their ships as Swedish Government has no legal power of general requisition. A new statute would be required and they regard this as impossible. They are prepared, however, to take steps to ensure [that] the employment of Swedish ships can be effectively directed in accordance with the Agreement on Principles and particularly article 7 (f) (ii) thereof if necessary by some form of pooling of revenues and adjustment as between individual Swedish owners.
Weston and I have explained that our Governments and the Governments of the Allies attach great importance to having all ships under requisition and that it will present real difficulties to us if Swedish ships are not requisitioned.
Carlsson said at the end of our talk this morning that he wanted to make it clear that Boheman was coming to London to discuss supply and payment questions and might wish to include accession to the Shipping Agreement as part of an over all settlement and that he did not want anything he said to be taken as a commitment that his Government would accede to UMA as an independent matter. We pointed out that this was naturally a matter for the Swedish Government to decide but decision on supply questions were wholly outside the Shipping Agreement; that there were distinct advantages to Sweden in joining the Agreement as a purely shipping matter and [Page 730] that their early accession might make a very desirable impression on the American and British Governments generally.
We pointed out further that the organization of UMEB is moving rapidly and that it would be desirable for Sweden to participate in its activities as early as possible. We believe he personally agrees with this and will urge it on his Government.
Carlsson agreed that it would be desirable for the substance of these talks to be communicated to the Allies at the UMEB meeting to see whether we and they would agree to Sweden’s accession with the two reservations noted above.
[End of Summary.]
Carlsson will be here at least until 18th and possibly the 25th so we can talk further with him if you wish to do so after getting the full story from Weston.
It was clearly understood that talks to date have committed nobody.
Sent to Department as 9849; repeated to Stockholm as 700.