740.00112 European War 1939/9902: Telegram
The Minister in Sweden (Johnson) to the Secretary of State
[Received January 610 a.m.]
37. Aide-mémoire regarding transit traffic through Bothnian ports (see Legation’s 4169, December 29, 6 p.m.14) presented to Legation officer today by Swedish Foreign Office official reads in paraphrase as follows:
“American and British Legations in Stockholm have recently requested information regarding transit of concrete, coal and coke from ports on the east coast of Sweden to Norway. Legations have been informed in reply that this transit traffic is composed solely of 3 items mentioned above and is carried on from Swedish ports of Lulea, Sundsvall and Harnow and to Trondheim and Narvik, respectively. From November 1942–October 1943 about 1600 trucks a month were forwarded and assurance has been given that these figures will not in future be surpassed.
Additional information is now available as follows:
The transit of coke and coal from Sweden to Norway was small prior to war and occupation of Norway, since Norway imported the majority of her supply from England. Following completion of occupation of Norway in June 1940, it became necessary to obtain supplies of coal and coke from Continent as local stocks available had become gradually exhausted. Coke and coal transit over Bothnian ports was far below its present figure during latter half of 1940 and greater part of 1941, but since close of 1941, this transit has remained reasonably constant. Customs statistics concerning this traffic are not available but figures furnished by railway authorities indicate a total transit to Norway over Bothnian ports of 37,000 tons in 1940, 114,000 tons in 1941 and 260,000 tons (thereof 15,000 tons of concrete) in 1942. It is probable that figures for 1943 will be slightly higher. Ships that bring iron ore from Sweden normally carry coal and coke to Bothnian ports. Amounts of coal and coke transited to Norway are but fraction of amounts shipped for Swedish consumption to Bothnian ports, but they make up only minor part of Norway’s total importation of coal and coke since greater part is shipped direct to Norwegian ports. German or German controlled trucks are largely used for transit through Sweden, average loading capacity for coal and coke being about 15 tons. Only concrete, coke and coal are transited by these routes. Different Norwegian firms are consignees, and, as far as is known in Sweden, coke and coal are used by Norwegian state railways, by industrial plants and for general purposes.
Transit traffic mentioned above has always differed in nature from transit to Finland and Norway over the ferry ports Trëlleborg, Malmö and Hälsingborg, as envisaged by Swedish-German agreement of 194015 regarding transit of war material, personnel and other goods [Page 459] for account of the occupying power. Principles of this agreement were applicable to transit to Finland as well as Norway so far as war material and other goods were concerned, but agreement had in view transit to Norway only. It is interesting to observe in this connection that goods—coal, coke and concrete—transited over Bothnian ports have not hitherto been sent over ferry ports, excluding possibility of northern traffic having been used as substitute for ferry boat transit.
It never occurred to anybody during the discussions among the Swedish, British and later U. S. authorities during 1942 and 1943 that anything other than ferry boat traffic was object of discussion, which clearly appears from wording of Mr. Boheman’s memorandum of October 15, 1942. At that time this traffic was declared—certain restrictive measures having been taken—not to exceed total quantity of 200,000 tons per year in the future, this figure being an estimate of actual traffic volume at time over ferry ports. The American and British representatives proposed, in course of discussions during summer of 1943, in connection with eventual end of transit of war material, a reduction on to 120,000 tons, which reduction corresponded in their opinion to war material transited.
The American and British Governments were informed after conclusion of new transit agreement with Germany in August 1943 that transit of goods other than war material would be maintained at then existing level, Germans not being permitted to use traffic capacity left open by cessation of transit of war material for other goods.
Fact[s] mentioned above indicate situation clearly. Perhaps it might be said that special attention should have been drawn to transit over Bothnian ports. It is sincerely regretted if misunderstanding should have arisen due to this omission—as a result of the belief that this traffic was not under discussion, since it is of a completely different nature.
Special stipulation in Swedish-German agreement of 1940 referring to capacity of Swedish railroads is foundation for restrictions on ferry boat transit. Under allegation that oil must be classed as kind of war material, transit of oil has been prohibited. Goods transported by railways leading from Bothnian ports to Norway cannot be classified as war material and no question of traffic capacity as to these railways can be involved.
Nevertheless, instructions have been issued by Swedish Government as follows:
- (1)
- In transit to Norway over Bothnian ports transport facilities will not be granted for increase over existing level.
- (2)
- In order to prevent goods which cannot now be transited over ferry boats, as result of restrictions imposed, being sent over Bothnian ports, no goods other than those already transited will be admitted on these routes.”
British Legation was given identical aide-mémoire. Copy of original is being sent by air mail to Department and to London Embassy.
This Legation is convinced that Swedes have acted in good faith in this matter. When Foreign Office official was asked whether something could not be done to reduce this traffic he replied that the [Page 460] Foreign Office knows no grounds on which it could take any action other than that promised above.