740.00112 European War 1939/11–1844: Telegram
The Minister in Sweden (Johnson) to the Secretary of State
[Received November 1911:55 a.m.]
4727. I have discussed Department’s 2315, November 17, 7 p.m. with Boheman with following result.
[Page 668]Boheman states his Government is “absolutely certain” that unless present meager exports to Germany which he says may in some instances be further reduced to token figures, are kept up, German authorities will not permit arrival of Saturnus to Sweden; that a “complete” stoppage now, even though taken administratively, would unquestionably produce this result. Sweden would, therefore, not only fail to get the rubber even though we grant it but would also lose extremely valuable cargo already loaded on Saturnus. I have no reasonable doubt in my mind that Boheman has represented genuine conviction of Swedish Government which he shares that our granting buna will be useless unless Swedes are able to keep up semblance of trade with Germany until arrival of the ship. He informed me that Minister Bostrom has received lengthy instructions to raise the issue again with U. S. authorities and make declaration in following sense: As soon as Saturnus arrives in Sweden with rubber cargo applied for, Swedish Government will stop all export to Germany of any commodity that can be considered as of importance for conduct of the war. After arrival of Saturnus no Swedish export to Germany will take place whatsoever except in special cases with regard to other commodities than those mentioned above and after previous consultation within framework of Joint Standing Commission.
It is my belief that Swedish Government is getting ready to stop all exports to Germany except in special cases after consultation in the JSC. (Government will not formally say “agreed upon” but will only say “after consultation” in the JSC. Boheman says, however, that there can be no reasonable doubt that the consultation will also imply consent. He admits that any Swedish exports to Germany after January 1 would have character of political act.) Swedes, therefore, are unable to see why they should sacrifice cargo of Saturnus with or without the rubber when there is no compensating factor but actually serious loss to them, and maintain immediate total stoppage by whatever measures will have result that Saturnus will not be allowed to pass German blockade. See immediately following cable.24
Repeated to London as my 1511.
- Not printed.↩