740.00112 European War 1939/12–1444: Telegram
The Ambassador in the United Kingdom (Winant) to the Secretary of State
[Received 10:45 p.m.]
11089. From Stone for Department and FEA. ReEmbs 11032, December 12 and 11088 December 14. During our discussions with the Swedes on the interim agreement Boheman has made it clear that Sweden expects immediate termination of the Göteborg traffic by Germany as a result of complete stoppage of trade on January 1. The Swedish Government has had evidence of German intentions in this regard but is prepared to apply the total embargo without any reservation.
Commenting informally on our desire to secure Swedish aid on rehabilitation of liberated Europe however Boheman observed that it might be to our advantage to keep the Göteborg traffic open if this could be accomplished without contributing in any way to the German war economy. He believed that this might be possible if Sweden could hold out the prospect of an insignificant trickle of trade restricted to timber products, pulp and paper through west coast ports and not including prefabricated houses, pit props or any other material of even indirect war aid to Germany. Boheman could not estimate [Page 676] the minimum volume which might be required to secure continuance of the Göteborg traffic but he thought that the Germans might allow the traffic to continue on a month-to-month basis if they could secure these timber products up to 2 or 3 million kronor a month. In Boheman’s opinion, the Germans are now concerned chiefly with the imminent prospect of losing further prestige, and hence will be likely to accept any trickle of trade however unimportant this may be. Consequently, he felt that it might be to our interest to permit the Swedes to sound out the Germans on this line on the understanding that no commitment of any kind would be made without the complete approval of the British and American Governments. Boheman reiterated that his suggestion was not put forward in a desire to avoid the commitment to stop all trade to Germany on January 1 already made by the Swedish Government and reaffirmed in the interim agreement.
Foot is putting this suggestion before his Government, but he gave Boheman no indication that it would be favorably considered. I told Boheman that I could not express the views of the American Government, but that I would forward his suggestion for the comment of the Department and FEA.
The Embassy would appreciate your views.
This message was repeated to Stockholm by Embassy’s 838, December 14, 9 p.m. [Stone.]