740.00112 European War 1939/11–2544: Telegram
The Acting Secretary of State to the Ambassador in the United Kingdom (Winant)
9924. From Department and FEA. This supersedes Department’s 9899 of Nov. 24,41 repeated to Bern as 3988. British Embassy here has [Page 784] received telegram No. 2627 from MEW (repeated to Bern), suggesting that recent military developments have already accomplished part of objectives sought in Anglo-American demand on Swiss in September. They propose strengthening our demand accordingly. Department and FEA agree, subject to following comments:
- 1.
- We would still insist on transit traffic being restricted to goods for civilian consumption only at normal level. No increase in quantities of such products over routes still passable, to compensate for routes closed by military action should be permitted.
- 2.
- We agree that drastic reduction in Swiss exports to Germany
should be demanded. However, we believe some definite figure
must be presented to Swiss, to avoid haggling over exact
percentage of reduction in present and prospective German
exports. We would be willing to leave to our Legation in Bern,
which undoubtedly has better information than we, the exact
reduction to be specified, but believe it should be at least 50
percent, and should apply both to total exports and by commodity
to Annex I. In deciding upon a figure the following factors,
among others, should be considered:
- a.
- Direct stoppage of transportation routes by Allied advances, artillery fire, bombing or other operations.
- b.
- Attack on sources of supply in whole Rhineland area.
- c.
- Cumulative deterioration of German production and transportation facilities.
- Swiss will cut down exports to Germany in their own interest, to avoid increasing German clearing deficit, and presumably will anticipate further slackening in supplies from Germany. We expect Bern to require greater concession than merely matching reduction in German shipments. Present German economic situation would thoroughly justify Swiss cancelling all commitments to Germany. Since any figure we may set for percentage reduction demanded would necessarily be arbitrary, and since military situation is moving very rapidly Legations should resolve every doubt in favor of largest reduction, looking toward complete stoppage of Swiss exports to enemy as soon as possible.
- 3.
- We agree to time limit on Swiss answer and suggest 1 week from date of approach to Swiss. Ministers should emphasize to Swiss that failing satisfactory reply within week, this and all previous offers become void, and that U.S. and U.K. could not support Swiss requests for permission to transport supplies into or out of Switzerland via France or any other territory under Allied control, except those needed explicitly for Allied purposes.
Please discuss with MEW and, if agreed, instruct Bern Legation to proceed. Repeated to Bern as 3997. [Department and FEA.]
- Telegram not printed.↩