740.00/1309: Telegram
The Minister in Sweden (Sterling) to the Secretary of State
[Received 6:38 p.m.]
26. In reply to the suggestion contained in Department’s telegram No. 6, April 20, 7 p.m., the Minister for Foreign Affairs stated to me yesterday in conversation that while Sweden sincerely appreciated the President’s untiring efforts to promote world peace he did not feel himself in a position to say more than that officially in connection with the message to Hitler; that in regard to the German Minister’s inquiries (Legation’s telegram No. 23, April 21, 4 p.m.61) he had made no official statement.
The facts are in reality that in Sweden’s firm determination to maintain absolute neutrality both in speech and action as between the democracies and the totalitarian powers, the Foreign Minister was placed in a delicate position by the suggestion especially as it arrived after antagonistic reports from Germany; therefore Sweden’s official approval would have been considered unneutral. Undoubtedly, however, the sympathies of Sweden are with the democracies.
In further conversation on the general situation during which the Minister was more communicative than usual he stated that Hitler’s speech changed it but little although by reason of the recent determined stand of Great Britain as well as the position against aggression taken by the United States and the American Republics, Hitler [Page 166] had now been forced to pause in his plans and was somewhat on the defensive. The Minister saw no reason to believe that war was inevitable provided Hitler showed a willingness to negotiate amicably.
The two danger spots, he said, were Poland and the Near East. As regards the former he entirely understood and sympathized with the Polish rejection of the German demands. If Danzig were ceded Germany would doubtless make of it a fortified naval base as was being done at Memel and the demand of an extraterritorial cross corridor was preposterous.
Rumania he felt was not a united strong people with its divers elements and could not be counted on to make much resistance to aggression. Yugoslavia is making every effort to maintain a neutral position and is otherwise being aided in that respect by the conflicting ambitions of Italy and Germany.
As to Sweden’s reaction to Hitler’s invitation to conclude non-aggression agreements with the countries enumerated by the President, Sandler replied that such an offer warranted consideration. This morning’s press carries despatches from Berlin to the effect that the German Government has now issued such invitation to the northern countries. In the afternoon press it is stated that the four Foreign Ministers of the northern countries are expected to meet this week to discuss the invitation.
- Not printed.↩