161. Letter From the Assistant Secretary of State for European Affairs (Merchant) to the Ambassador in Sweden (Cabot)1
Dear Jack: Your letter of March 142 [less than 1 line of source text not declassified] is very interesting indeed and has received the attention of several appropriate officers.
[5 lines of source text not declassified] We are, however, sufficiently interested in this Swedish line of thought to avoid an act or word which might bury the subject once for all.
[1 paragraph (4½ lines of source text) not declassified]
It is probably best to say nothing at this time. If they revert to the subject in a way that requires you to make some comment it is probably unwise for you to go beyond saying that Brunnstrom’s discussion with Marshall Green has been communicated to the State Department.
[1 paragraph (5½ lines of source text) not declassified]
It is hard at this juncture to foresee the results of our conversations. [2 lines of source text not declassified]Perhaps the recent attack in one of the Moscow papers will serve to quiet public discussion of Swedish requirements without smothering interest in making proposals to us.
Let me know whether there are any other straws that indicate how this wind is blowing in Sweden. I shall endeavor to keep you posted as to developments here and advised as to whether we feel you can appropriately take any steps in pursuing the subject with your Swedish friends.
Sincerely yours,