740.00119 EW/1–645
The Counselor of the British Embassy (Wright) to the Director of the Office of European Affairs (Matthews)
Washington, January 6,
1945.
Dear Doc: With reference to our Aide-Mémoire of December 28th which I left with you, about the
approach made by Dahlerus to our Legation at Stockholm regarding Germany, I
send you herewith a paraphrase of a telegram which the Foreign Office sent
on January 2nd to our representatives at Madrid, Lisbon, Ankara, Berne,
Tangier and the Holy See.
You will see that the purpose of this telegram is to ensure that no
encouragement whatsoever is given to any peace overture from the
Germans.
Yours ever,
[Enclosure]
Paraphrase of a telegram from the Foreign Office to
Madrid, Lisbon, Ankara, Berne, Tangier and the Holt See dated
January 2nd, 1945
Present German counter offensive in Belgium may be accompanied or
followed by renewed peace overtures from the Germans designed to divide
the Allies. It is of utmost importance that the Germans should be given
no encouragment to believe that we may be inclined to play. It will be
equally important that we should keep our principal Allies promptly and
fully informed of any such overtures. I accordingly rely upon you to
ensure that instructions in my telegram under reference against any
contact with any German nationals are strictly observed and that any
German feelers that may come to the notice of yourself or your staff or
Consular Officers (where any) under your superintendence are promptly
reported to me.
Particular care should be exercised in regard to approaches from
unofficial neutrals who may be suspected of being used either innocently
or otherwise for the purpose of establishing contact between us and
enemy quarters. No encouragement whatever should be given any such
approach.
