740.00112 European War 1939/10655: Telegram
The Minister in Sweden (Johnson) to the Secretary of State
[Received April 26—12:57 a.m.]
1454. During a conversation with Boheman at lunch today I said that I hoped that some progress was being made on study of ways to meet our wishes in regard to ball-bearing exports to Germany and that in my opinion SKF had a particular interest in cooperating. Boheman said that much study was being given to subject but said that we should realize that it is impossible for SKF to stop entirely all of its exports under existing contracts with Germany. He seemed reluctant to make any concrete suggestions but said that he realized importance we attach to immediate cessation of these exports. In this connection I failed to report in my 1418, April 22, 10 p.m. that Mr. Boheman had stated in commenting on suggestions made by both Mallet and me that SKF had a very vital material interest in meeting our wishes, that we were wrong to place blame on company for its actions as Swedish [Page 525] Government was really the responsible agent. I think it would be unwise for us to place too great reliance on direct negotiations with SKF as a certain way of attaining our aims. It is evident that Government is closely examining every alternative action which might be taken and that they realize they will not be able to evade responsibility by passing it on to SKF. Boheman made no reference to possibility suggested by Waring of an embargo to all belligerents (my 1453, April 25, 9 p.m.35) but it might be that they would consider that measure less objectionable than an action directed against Germany alone which would break their agreement with Germany and would obviously be result of extreme Allied pressure. I did not attempt to discuss Wallenberg’s efforts with Boheman as I have no knowledge that they have received any Government sanction.
It may be that we could interest the Swedish Government in an embargo on ball-bearing exports to all belligerents if we should be able to keep the SKF plant operating at its present rate of output by paying for the production and storing the ball bearings, etc, in Sweden, provided that we, in line with the Department’s telegram No. 576, April 3 midnight36 should make it clear to the Swedish Government that if an embargo on ball-bearing exports should be followed by German retaliation in the form of economic sanctions such as stoppage of German buna exports to Sweden we would be prepared to supply appropriate quantities of rubber and other vitally needed materials formerly obtained from Germany.
My 33 of April 25, 9 p.m. repeats this to London.