740.00112 European War 1939/8–1844: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in the Soviet Union (Harriman)
1991. We are very gratified over the wholehearted support which the Soviet Government (your 3056, August 18) has given to our initiative with respect to Sweden. We are particularly pleased to note that the Soviet Government apparently concurs in the importance which we attach to the American Government’s major objectives, namely, (1) elimination of Sweden’s trade with the enemy, and (2) a drastic revision of Swedish policy vis-à-vis Germany. Your efforts to bring this about are highly commended.
We are hopeful that the Anglo-American démarche, which as a matter of fact has now become in effect an Anglo-American-Soviet démarche, and which we trust will be made today or tomorrow, will result in the prompt initiative by Sweden of definitive action towards attainment of our major objectives. As you will have noted, however, from the Department’s telegrams on this subject, particularly, for example, our 1938, August 15,47 we feel very strongly that if the Swedish Government does not on its own initiative take prompt action which will shorten the war by anticipating and aiding in shaping military developments in Europe, we should make formal demands upon Sweden and couple those demands with a warning that if they are not [Page 619] met we shall be compelled to take certain measures which are outlined in paragraph (4) of our 1887, August 8.48 We are fully prepared to make these demands alone, if necessary, but of course would prefer to have British and Soviet support. The British have so far proved reluctant to commit themselves to go with us in formal demands coupled with a threat of retaliatory measures if those demands are not complied with. The apparent coincidence of American and Soviet views, as reflected in your 3056 leads us to hope, however, that the Soviet Government would agree with us on the necessity of making such formal demands upon Sweden should a prompt Swedish response to our current démarche not be forthcoming. Accordingly we feel that it might be well for you in your discretion to have a talk with the appropriate Soviet official on the basis of our 1938 and 1943, August 15,49 and other telegrams in which we have expressed our views with a view to laying the groundwork for close American-Soviet cooperation with respect to Sweden. Please keep us currently informed of such conversations as you may have on this subject.
Sent to Moscow only.