740.00112 European War 1939/7–644: Telegram
The Ambassador in the United Kingdom (Winant) to the Secretary of State
[Received 10:24 p.m.]
5339. For Secretary, Under Secretary, Crowley and Stone FEA from Riefler. Gunnar Hägglöf, Swedish Minister to Netherlands Government, who handles Swedish economic warfare matters in London, is returning to Sweden for a short visit, and probably will be back in London in first days of August. Riefler and Foot had a purely informal conversation with him and Gisle87 prior to his departure. Foot and Riefler intimated that although a war trade agreement for 1945 had been mentioned earlier, recent developments were so rapid that military events might greatly restrict or sever Swedish-German trade by then. In view of this, it was suggested that it might be a wise course for the Swedes at this time and on their own initiative to end their trade with Germany.
Hägglöf made two observations that the Swedish Government might not look favorably on such an action at very last moment, and that small countries, as he had previously pointed out, had to fulfill their agreements in view of dangers involved.
Riefler pointed out that our supply authorities in view of UNRRA88 and other demands would find allocation of materials more difficult in future. Foot suggested that a possible first step along road of termination [Page 573] of all trade might be a prohibition on Swedish ships calling at Axis ports. Hägglöf pointed out again that there was problem of the existing shipping agreements, but said that he would put these ideas before his Government.
Full text of Foot’s minutes by airmail. [Riefler.]