740.00112 European War 1939/1–545: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Minister in Sweden ( Johnson )
41. The Department concurs in your view that there is possible room for honest misunderstanding on the part of Sweden concerning the extent to which it was committed by the Saturnus agreement (your 65, January 5, 6 p.m.). However, this is all now academic in view of the provisional entry into force of the Interim War Trade Agreement by which Sweden is specifically bound to eliminate trade with Germany, occupied territories and satellite countries except as regards particular transactions specifically approved by the American and British Governments through the Stockholm JSC. MEW confirms [Page 743] our feeling that there is no basis for misunderstanding of the terms of this Agreement (London’s 161, January 5, 7 p.m. to the Department, repeated to Stockholm, number unknown). We would therefore be satisfied if Sweden, in conformity with the provisions of the Agreement, stops all exports to Denmark and Norway except those approved through the Stockholm JSC.
Repeated to London as Department’s 154.