858.248/9–1344: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Minister in Sweden (Johnson)
1829. Your no. 2992, August 7, 9:00 p.m.60 The War Department desires that you informally ascertain the views of the Swedish Government to a proposal that this Government make available for purchase by Sweden of from 60 to 150 P–47 aircraft and lend Sweden 4 interned B–17 aircraft for use as transports in return for the release of all American air crew personnel now or hereafter interned in Sweden and assurance that all American bombers now or hereafter force-landed in Sweden will be released. The final number of P–17 aircraft to be made available within the above limits is left to your discretion for determination during the negotiations.
For your confidential information, the War Department attaches the highest importance to the release of the air crew personnel, now interned in Sweden, at the earliest possible moment. You are therefore requested to take up this matter at once with the appropriate Swedish authorities. The Department desires to be kept currently informed by telegraph concerning the course of your negotiations.
For your further confidential information, the War Department desires, in the event of a favorable reply to the above proposal, to send a military air mission to Sweden in order to instruct the Swedish Air Force in the maintenance and operation of United States aircraft. No mention should be made at this time of the second proposal unless the Swedish authorities themselves indicate the need for instructors.
- Not printed.↩