340.1115A/2557: Telegram
The Acting Secretary of State to the Minister in Sweden (Johnson)
278. German Government states that continued submission of lists of proposed passengers for Drottningholm is causing delay in granting clearance for vessel. This appears confirmed by your 844, April 15, 7 p.m.80
If within 12 hours preceding receipt of this telegram you have submitted additional names for German approval you may upon receipt of this telegram submit any other names now before you stating they comprise your final list. If you have submitted no list within last 12 hours you should inform German Government through Swiss channels that there will be no additional lists for this vessel.
It is expected to proceed after departure of Drottningholm with negotiations for charter of Gripsholm for Japanese exchange. As soon as German Government consents in principle to charter of Gripsholm you should notify Helsinki and you and Helsinki should take all possible steps to prepare in time passenger lists for this vessel so that these lists may be transmitted through Swiss channels to German Government for approval in time not to delay sailing of the vessel.
[Page 359]It is important that you stress to persons who may have missed sailing on Drottningholm fact that this Government is not obligated to provide extraordinary means for their repatriation although it has been glad to place at their disposal the facilities arising from the departure of the Drottningholm. You may add that should similar opportunity arise the same consideration will be shown them but that this Government cannot consider itself under any binding obligation in the matter nor can it bind itself to give extensive advance notice of any future sailing (that is of the Gripsholm.)
Repeat to Helsinki and keep that office fully informed of developments regarding Gripsholm in order that appropriate measures may be taken to notify Americans in Finland as soon as it appears that there may be an opportunity to bring them home.
- Not printed.↩