868.48/2–2445: Telegram
The Minister in Sweden ( Johnson ) to the Secretary of State
[Received 1:30 p.m.]
698. Swedish Foreign Office February 21 sent us German text of note verbale from Wilhelmstrasse83 to Swedish Legation dated February [Page 198] 3 but not received at Legation’s temporary residence at Altdoebern until February 13. We quote verbatim translation of this note.
“In note verbale from German Foreign Office of April 28, 194284 addressed to Royal Swedish Legation Government of Reich agreed to relief work being carried out for benefit of Greek civil population with foodstuffs from abroad. At end of communication it was stated that German Government assumed this activity would continue for indefinite period until one of parties concerned found it necessary to terminate it on account of eventual new circumstances. A change of circumstances has in meantime taken place inasmuch as German troops now no longer occupy Greece. Relief Commission composed of Spanish citizens and officials of International Red Cross which has hitherto been authorized solely to distribute to civilian population consignments of food received from abroad has already in part of Greece handed over its task to occupying power and Greek authorities. As it considers that task hitherto assigned to it is now discharged it has according to report received decided to remain in Athens only until February 15th in order to wind up its administration.
As a result of this development such change has occurred in circumstances which prevailed when relief work was instituted that government of Reich considers that agreed basic conditions of relief scheme no longer obtain. It can therefore no longer maintain safe conducts which it has granted hitherto to Swedish ships engaged in Greek relief traffic and requests Royal Swedish Government to order recall of Swedish ships if [in?] this traffic to Swedish ports which they originally left with agreement of Government of Reich. Government of Reich would be prepared to consider proposals whereby withdrawal of ships would take place at any given time after conclusion of present voyages from Greece and of such voyages [which] might in addition still prove necessary in order to enable distressed Greek civilian population continue to receive supplies of urgently needed foodstuffs in present circumstances. However, it would involve no hardship if Swedish ships were withdrawn from relief work on scale proportionate to extent to which responsibility for provisioning of Greece has been transferred to Greek authorities and occupying power.
German Foreign Office looks forward to early intimation of decision of Royal Swedish Government in this matter.”
Swedish Foreign Office has orally assured British Legation and Greek Chargé d’Affaires that it has no intention of complying with German request for withdrawal of vessels in Greek relief traffic.85 Although Swedish reply to German note verbale has not yet been formulated, we are orally informed that it will urge argument that [Page 199] Red Cross relief is still very much needed in Greece and therefore no reason is perceived for discontinuing Greek relief traffic. Swedish note will also mention in an incidental manner that there is no truth in the report that Greek Relief Commission contemplates terminating its activities at present. Foreign Office will provide us with text of its note when it has been delivered. Meanwhile Foreign Office considers it essential that Allied authorities continue as usual vis-à-vis activities of Greek Relief Commission and continue to grant safe conducts.
British Legation has sent telegram in similar terms to London.
- The German Foreign Office.↩
- For draft translation, see telegram 1019, April 30, 1942, 8 p.m., from Stockholm, Foreign Relations, 1942, vol. ii, p. 756.↩
- In memorandum 503, February 20, 1945, the Greek Embassy requested the Department of State to utilize its good offices to ensure continuance of Swedish shipping in the Greek Relief traffic. The matter was discussed with the Greek Ambassador on February 26, and on March 10 the Deputy Director of the Office of Near Eastern and African Affairs (Ailing) wrote to the Ambassador: “You may assure the Greek Government of the good offices of the Department in this matter.” (868.48/2–2045)↩