740.00112 European War 1939/8–2144: Telegram
The Minister in Sweden (Johnson) to the Secretary of State
[Received August 22—4:09 a.m.]
3216. My 3212, August 21, 7 p.m.50 After Mr. Boheman informed me this afternoon that the Government had confirmed the action taken on August 18 to withdraw insurance from all Swedish shipping to Germany, it [I] told Mr. Boheman that this action was appreciated by us as an important step forward. I reminded him, however, of previous talks in which I had made it clear that our objective was that Sweden eliminate entirely all trade with Germany and by the manner of taking this action contribute toward a more speedy conclusion of the war. Mr. Boheman became obviously extremely angry. He said that we were insatiable, that no matter how great a step Sweden might take we always wanted more; if we demanded that the Swedish Government take an official action as sure to stop totally all trade with Germany it will be flatly refused. Boheman continued by saying that “we will not be bullied into action” and that Sweden’s subsequent measures would be taken in the light of Sweden’s interests and according to Sweden’s own conception of her duty. He said that [Page 620] we could make any threats we pleased. He then brought up the case of the Dicto and Lionel and said that both we and the British had then strenuously insisted on the right of any belligerent nation to send its own ships to a neutral nation to bring out cargoes; that we then made use of Sweden’s neutral duties, but that now we are practically asking Sweden to abandon neutrality at the closing stage of the war. He concluded by saying “and how despised we will be later if we do this”.
I did not feel that any useful purpose would be served by engaging in any argumentative comment on the sore marks but expressed strongly our view that Sweden should take all action within her power to contribute toward shortening the war. Boheman then remarked that Swedish trade with Germany as it stands today would have no real effect on the course of the war and that if the trade were stopped entirely it would have no material effect. I told him that in my opinion total severance of trade relations with Germany would have a valuable psychological and moral effect, and Boheman professed to believe that this is imaginary. He also expressed repugnance to the idea that Sweden should abandon her fixed policies under pressure or for hope of future gain.
Department’s telegram to London (number unknown)51 repeated to Legation as Department’s 1656, August 19; Department’s 1659, August 19,52 London’s 6753, August 20 to Department (325 [362] to Stockholm); and Department’s 1663, August 2053 have been received. I conferred with Mallet today and we are both meeting with Madame Kollontay tonight. I saw Madame Kollontay on August 19 after receipt of Moscow’s 3056, August 18 to Department, repeated to Stockholm, and brought her up-to-date. Mallet and I agreed that it would be impossible to make the démarche today as there was not time to coordinate the action with Madame Kollontay. We both were of the opinion furthermore that it would be unwise to do so until the final Government action had been taken on the shipping insurance question.
I will send a further telegram to the Department tonight following my meeting with Madame Kollontay and Mallet.