740.00112 European War 1939/8575: Telegram

The Minister in Sweden (Johnson) to the Secretary of State

1700. In discussing German traffic across Sweden yesterday Söderblom said strictly confidentially that Germans had been told some time ago specifically that should there be an invasion of Norway by United Nations, permission for traffic both for personnel and matériel would automatically be cancelled. Subsequently, he did not say when, Germans had been told that cancellation of traffic in future did not necessarily depend upon an invasion of Norway by United Nations. He stated categorically, however, that Germany had not been told as has been rumored here that Sweden had a definite intention even though at an indefinite date of stopping transit traffic. Foreign Minister in his address on foreign affairs in recent secret session of Riksdag said that Government was as anxious as press and public to stop transit traffic but that Government must be permitted to choose time and circumstances.

Johnson