Foreign Relations of the United States, Diplomatic Papers, 1944, Europe, Volume IV

740.00112 European War 1939/7–1144: Telegram

The Secretary of State to the Minister in Switzerland (Harrison)

Washington, July 13, 1944—5 p.m.

2398. Your 4422, July 11, 7 p.m.⁶⁹ Please inform Minister of Foreign Affairs that this Government requests the Swiss Government to make no commitments to the Germans for the export from Switzerland to Germany, subsequent to the time at which the Swiss frontier may be opened, of any commodities. You are also instructed to state that this Government hopes that the Swiss Government will make no continuing commitments (or will have an adequate escape clause in such commitments) regarding export to Germany of any kind since the rapidly changing military conditions may cause this Government to request lower ceilings or even an embargo of the export of commodities to Germany before the opening of the Swiss frontier and since this Government will not be able to accept as a reason for refusal of such possible requests the fact that the Swiss have made commitments to Germany.

Sent to Bern, repeated to London as Department’s [5499].⁷²

Hull

69. Not printed.
72. Repeated to London with the opening sentence: “Please urge British to instruct their Minister in Bern to approach Swiss immediately in sense of following instructions to our Legation.”