740.00112 European War 1939/7–844: Telegram
The Ambassador in the United Kingdom (Winant) to the Secretary of State
[Received 5:50 p.m.]
5397. Reference Department’s 5338 July 6 to Embassy, 1347 to Stockholm. Both Embassy and MEW believe that military situation is changing so rapidly that it would be disadvantageous to us were we to make an approach to Swedish Government at this time which could be interpreted as indicating that it was our belief that trade between Sweden and enemy countries and territories could be continued in 1945 on same basis as at present. See Embassy’s 5339, July 6.
2. Aide-mémoire suggested by Department in its 5338, July 6 was discussed with MEW immediately upon its receipt. In view of considerations mentioned in paragraph 1 above, Embassy and MEW believe most strongly that it would be inappropriate for American and British Ministers in Stockholm to present this aide-mémoire as drafted since it would permit the impression that we were ready to open shortly negotiations for a war trade agreement for next year on a basis somewhat similar to present one.
Embassy and MEW therefore strongly recommend that American and British Ministers in Stockholm be instructed to make a joint formal démarche to Swedish Minister for Foreign Affairs to obtain an immediate assurance from his Government that it will not enter into any commitment with the enemy regarding export of any commodities and, more especially, bearings et cetera in 1945, without previous consultation with Allied Government. Actual wording of aide-mémoire is to be left to our Minister in Stockholm. MEW is instructing British Minister in Stockholm to join with his American colleague in presenting an aide-mémoire in this sense immediately upon latter’s receipt of similar instructions.
We both believe this would completely hold our position without indicating the course of action we may plan to pursue.
3. Waring is at present in London; he points out: (a) that he has no definite proof that SKF accepted orders based in [on] inquiry made [Page 574] to it by Germans and reported in Stockholm’s 2331, June 27, to Department89 (628 to London), although such an acceptance is not impossible; (b) that no order accepted by SKF is definitive or can be fulfilled until such time as it has received the approval of Swedish Government; (c) that it is of paramount importance that secrecy of information he has received from SKF be maintained, and that under no circumstances should the fact that we are in possession of this information be divulged to Swedish Government.
Message repeated to Stockholm as Embassy’s 250.
- Not printed.↩