File No. 600.119/168
The Minister in Sweden ( Morris) to the Secretary of State
[Received June 29, 4 p.m.]
495. Department’s 246.1 Since beginning of war great quantities foodstuffs and other merchandise have been exported from Scandinavian countries to Germany. This is especially true of Sweden and Denmark. British Minister informs me that reason his Government has adhered to policy of permitting continuance these exportations [Page 1028] from Denmark to Germany is that England felt that to compel Denmark not to export to Germany would result in Germany’s occupation of Denmark which was undesirable. This question of exports to Germany is of vital importance in connection with the feeding of Germany. Before any licenses are granted permitting exportation from America to Scandinavia, I earnestly recommend that agreement be secured from the Scandinavian Governments effectively to embargo all exports of foodstuffs to Germany and that Swedish Government also agree without other compensation to permit all merchandise not included in Swedish decree of January, 1915, that is to say munitions of war, freely to pass through Sweden to Russia.
The British Minister and myself are convinced that it is absolutely essential to Sweden’s economic life that she continue to procure coal from Germany. As pointed out in my 348,1 Sweden is now securing her coal supply from this source in return for exports to Germany which have been of untold value to that country. Germany will endeavor to compel Sweden to continue exportation foodstuffs. It is thought that the need in Germany for Swedish iron and steel, ore and woodpulp is such that she will continue to furnish Sweden with coal in return for these commodities.