740.00112 European War 1939/10905: Telegram
The Chargé in the Soviet Union (Hamilton) to the Secretary of State
[Received 11:26 p.m.]
1920. Pursuant to the Department’s telegram No. 1250, May 20, 4 p.m., I sent a note to Molotov65 on May 24 in which inter alia I expressed the hope of my Government that the Soviet Government would interpose no objection to a Swedish embargo on ball-bearing exports and that the Soviet Government would in the same manner as the United States and the United Kingdom forego its supplies of bearings from Sweden if necessary to keep bearings from the enemy.
In a reply dated May 28 Molotov states that on May 17 the American Minister in Sweden and Mr. Griffis informed the Soviet Minister regarding the status of this question with SKF. The note continues:
“Mr. Johnson and Mr. Griffis stated that the proposal of the Soviet Government to except Soviet ball-bearing orders from a possible general prohibition to export ball bearings from Sweden would be fully carried out and that the United States Government would assist in the delivery of these bearings from Sweden to the Soviet Union. Messrs. Johnson and Griffis furthermore requested Madame Kollontay to support before the Swedish Government the Anglo-American démarche for the establishment of an embargo on the export of ball bearings from Sweden to all warring countries. In connection with the receipt of this information, Madame Kollontay was instructed to inform Mr. Johnson and Mr. Griffis that note had been taken of their statement. With respect to the question of supporting the démarche undertaken by the United States and British Governments before the Swedish Government regarding the establishment of an embargo on the export from Sweden of ball bearings with the above-mentioned exception, Madame Kollontay was instructed to support the appropriate démarche of the American and British Ministers before the Swedish Government.
In connection with the aforementioned, and since Madame Kollontay has possibly already made an appropriate statement to the Swedish Government, I would be grateful if you would inform me whether the United States Government considers it necessary to maintain the proposal set forth in your letter of May 24.”
Sent to the Department. Repeated to London and Stockholm.
- Vyacheslav Mikhailovich Molotov, People’s Commissar for Foreign Affairs of the Soviet Union.↩