740.00112 European War 1939/10507: Telegram
The Ambassador in the United Kingdom (Winant) to the Secretary of State
London, April 10,
1944—10 p.m.
[Received April 10—6:30 p.m.]
[Received April 10—6:30 p.m.]
2920. From the Ambassador and Riefler. Reference Embassy’s 2902 and 2903, April 9.80
- 1.
- British have consulted their supply authorities on problem of threatening SKF and subject has also been referred to Portal, Chief of Air Staff. Supply authorities strongly oppose any risk to SKF deliveries of bearings to Britain. Portal has expressed opinion that cutting off of supplies of Swedish bearings at this moment would be extremely serious.
- 2.
- British earnestly request that clause threatening SKF be dropped from note.
- 3.
- British will in any case support Johnson in his démarche at Stockholm but form of support will depend on whether clause threatening SKF is omitted or not. If it is omitted, Mallet is authorized to hand Swedish Foreign Office at the same time American note is delivered a written statement saying that His Majesty’s Government are in complete agreement with United States and associate themselves entirely with requests contained in United States note. If clause in question is not omitted, Mallet will probably make a separate visit to Foreign Office and associate himself verbally and in general with objectives sought in note.
- 4.
- British are pressing Moscow to join and would prefer that delivery of note be deferred until Wednesday81 morning to give Moscow opportunity to associate themselves also with the démarche.
Repeated to Stockholm as Embassy’s 122 of April 10. [Winant and Riefler.]
Winant