740.00112 European War 1939/7–644: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in the United Kingdom (Winant)
5420. For Riefler. The Department and FEA feel that this is not a moment for issuing invitation to Swedes to negotiate War Trade Agreement for 1945 as suggested in Stockholm’s 665, July 6, 9 p.m. to London, 2498 to Department.89 We believe that, in view of the rapidly changing military situation, negotiations for 1945 War Trade Agreement should be withheld until the latest practicable date.
We nevertheless believe that American and British Governments should go on record in warning Swedes against making any commitments in forthcoming discussions with Germans for 1945 exports or carry-overs for 1945. If you and Foot agree and if British Government forwards appropriate instructions to Mallet, you are authorized so to inform Johnson. He is hereby instructed in such an event jointly with his British colleague to present the following aide-mémoire to Boheman or other appropriate official of the Swedish Foreign Office:
“The American and British Governments request the Swedish Government to refrain from entering into any commitment for 1945 exports to the enemy or for carrying unfilled 1944 quotas over into 1945.
In view of this request and in view of the changing military situation the American and British Governments declare that during the negotiations for a war trade agreement for 1945, which they will soon propose to the Swedish Government, they will not recognize any commitments made by the Swedish Government to Axis Governments for that year as reasons for Swedish inability to agree to American and British requests for limitations on Swedish exports to Germany and German-controlled territory.”
Sent to London, repeated to Stockholm as Department’s 1362.
- Not printed.↩