Foreign Relations of the United States, 1948, Western Europe, Volume III

858.248/9–3048: Telegram

The Acting Secretary of State to the Embassy in Sweden

top secret

Washington, October 2, 1948—3 p. m.

716. Brit reply¹ to Dept aide-mémoire Sep 24² airmailed you concerning policy toward Sweden summarized as follows:

Seventy Vampires plus sixty spare Goblin engines already delivered Sweden under Jan 1946 contract. License to manufacture Goblin and Ghost engines granted Sweden early 1946. Sweden has placed orders totalling two hundred ten including one hundred twenty contracted for Jan and ninety this summer for Vampire airframes to be fitted with Swed produced engines. Delivery airframes to begin Mar 1949 at rate five per month.

Brit policy on above contracts based fact firm orders from RAF, Commonwealth and Western Union and other allies insufficient to keep aircraft industry desired high level. Therefore orders accepted from friendly countries important to UK defense provided they do not interfere with procurement of allies. Since limiting factor is engine production Swed orders do not interfere. Further considerations justifying contracts (a) escape clause in contracts (b) economic importance of exports.

Brit having considered delaying mil supplies for Sweden as means of persuasion decided against this form pressure prior to elections. Since UK unable offer Sweden worthwhile support until security arrangements Western Powers have been agreed Brit decided to adopt “somewhat reticent attitude”. Brit consider their policy rather successful since Swedes have dropped quid pro quos for Scandinavian defense talks. Finally Brit (a) convinced pressure on Swedes useless at moment since UK unable to offer Swed firm guarantee of support (b) do not consider present policy should be changed.³

Lovett

1. Note from British Embassy dated September 30, 1948, titled “Supply to Sweden of Vampire Aircraft”, not printed (858.248/9–3048).
2. Not printed.
3. In answer to this telegram, Matthews cabled that it seemed to him the British were failing to take into consideration the time element required to move Sweden away from neutrality, especially since it involved changing a policy that had paid off for 135 years. (Telegram 1130, October 6, 1945, not printed: 858.248/10–648.)