740.00112 European War 1939/11092: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in the United Kingdom (Winant)
5005. Department and FEA approve substance comments contained in your 4943, June 21, 8 p.m. and sent to Bern as 176, June 21. We believe, moreover, that it is important that agreement should be come to by June 30. Our Legation at Bern is therefore instructed to press for a formal offer and if this offer coincides with the Swiss counter proposal outlined in Bern’s 3835, June 15, 10 p.m., sent to London as Bern’s 1031, Legation is instructed to clinch this offer either by an exchange of notes (to be incorporated in a comprehensive agreement which will be subsequently concluded in London) or by other means. In doing so, the Legation should make it clear to the Swiss that the export ceilings are open to review at any time and that a marked change in military conditions would in all probability cause such a review to be initiated by us.
[Page 737]If (repeat if) our Legation at Bern finds it necessary in order to clinch the agreement to agree to Swiss request for flour milling machinery and thermometers, it may do so. Since Swiss have not met our full requirements, we are extremely reluctant to grant Swiss request as to locomotives and Legation should only agree to this if they find it essential in order to clinch agreement without further delay. In any case, number of locomotives should be kept as low and delivery delayed as long as possible.
If you and MEW are in accord with the above, please repeat the above message textually to our Legation at Bern at once and request British immediately to send similar instructions to British Legation at Bern.
Telegraph action taken.