Foreign Relations of the United States Diplomatic Papers, 1939, General, Volume I

740.00112 European War 1939/331: Telegram

The Secretary of State to the Minister in Denmark (Atherton)

Washington, October 20, 1939—6 p.m.

56. Your 105, October 18, 3 p.m.

(1) Beyond giving to each of the Nordic Ministers a copy of the oral statement referred to in our 50, October 3, 3 p.m., we have had no conversations with any of them regarding neutral trade beyond a few quite informal conversations of no substantial importance.

We have made inquiry of the German Government regarding certain Swedish and Finnish vessels carrying cargoes consigned to the United States which were held for examination at German ports,⁵³ and have so informed the Swedish and Finnish Ministers respectively. Some of these vessels have been released but eight or more are still being held.

(2) The Panama meeting passed a resolution registering opposition “to the placing of foodstuffs and clothing intended for civilian populations, not destined directly or indirectly for the use of a belligerent government or its armed forces, on lists of contraband.”⁵⁴

Hull

53. See pp. 821 ff.
54. See Vol. v , section entitled “Meeting of the Foreign Ministers of the American Republics …”