858.248/9–1644: Telegram
The Minister in Sweden (Johnson) to the Secretary of State
[Received 6:42 p.m.]
3700. Have discussed suitable portions Department’s 1829, September 13, 7 p.m., with Boheman. He has promised to go into matter thoroughly and I am convinced fully understands implications as well as opportunity now afforded Sweden to make a welcome gesture. He made no definite commitments but I gather that release of personnel would offer less difficulties than release of force-landed bombers. If Swedish Government should agree to our request for release of all force-landed bombers now and in future Boheman said it would be practically making Sweden a base of military operations against Germany and that it would not be possible. I am seeing him again, however, early next week and in the meantime have urged on him to explore every possibility and not dismiss anything as being “impossible”. I shall also discuss matter informally with General Nordenskiold.65
A convoy of 15 Finnish ships under German charter or requisition which left Finland yesterday carrying evacuated military material and some military personnel received news while in the Baltic of German attack on Hogland.
According to Swedish information, 9 of the ships immediately broke away from the convoy and made for Swedish ports. Three have already arrived. Boheman expects others to arrive today. Masters and crews of these vessels are of Finnish nationality. All German military personnel on these boats will be immediately interned and Boheman has promised that he will release one of our airmen for each one of them immediately. Boheman has also given entirely satis [Page 691] factory assurances regarding immediate release from internment of one American airman for each German soldier who may come to Sweden from Finland and who may be offered the choice of remaining in this country or returning to Germany. (Department’s 1834, September 14, noon.)
- Lt. Gen. Bengt G. Nordenskiold, Commander in Chief, Royal Swedish Air Force.↩