858.248/9–2844: Telegram
The Ambassador in the United Kingdom (Winant) to the Secretary of State
[Received 10:19 p.m.]
8100. Foreign Office has been informed of our views on release of aircraft personnel interned in Sweden as set forth in last paragraph of Department’s 7889, September 27, 11 p.m.77
We were told at the Foreign Office that a message had just been received from the British Legation at Stockholm stating that the Swedish Government had indicated that it was no longer prepared to agree to exchanges of British and American military internees for German military internees unless the Soviet Government agreed to such exchanges. It was added that Foreign Office had for some time felt that exchange effected in Sweden should be cleared with the Soviet Government as there are also Russian internees in Sweden. Foreign Office will now give immediate consideration to placing this question of exchanges either before the Air Ministry or before the Joint Chiefs of Staff. We will be promptly informed of Foreign Office decision.