File No. 600.119/59
The Minister in Sweden ( Morris) to the Secretary of State
[Received May 9, 5.30 a.m.]
340. I am requested by the Foreign Office to inform you that Envoy Lagercrantz is proceeding to America accompanied by his assistant, Mr. Nordvall, on the steamer Oscar II sailing from Christiania May 4 as a representative of the Royal Swedish Government to confer with the American Government regarding importation from United States to Sweden of foodstuffs and raw material. Mr. Lagercrantz was formerly Swedish Minister at Washington. He is one of the influential business men of Sweden and enjoys the confidence and intimacy of his Government.
In connection with the above the control of American supplies into Sweden is important in consideration of Sweden’s relationship with Germany. Also a matter of important consideration in connection with any question of Swedish food supplies is the fact that Sweden does not permit the entry of food or other articles with few exceptions into Russia except under licenses granted by the Swedish Government in return for permission from Great Britain to import supplies for Swedish consumption. Naturally, Russia being largely cut off from their supplies through this Swedish law, it has had a serious effect upon Russia’s not receiving freely supplies through Sweden which at times has been practically the only route of transportation and at all times is an open, easy and important route.
Therefore, I am calling the Department’s attention to the importance of these matters in connection with the subjects which Lagercrantz [Page 1018] will bring up for discussion. The matter of import of food to Sweden is at present a most sensitive question with the Swedish Government. It has been the subject of continuous negotiation between the British and Swedish Governments and has caused great irritation. …