740.59112A/11–1844: Telegram
The Ambassador in the United Kingdom (Winant) to the Secretary of State
[Received November 19—6 a.m.]
10139. For WT. Remytel 8798, October 16, repeated Stockholm 579. MEW has now received the views of other interested departments and agrees with them that it would be unwise for the British Legation in Stockholm to take part in the collection of lists of collaborators in Norway and Denmark. MEW expresses opinion that as British policy in France has been to leave the French Government to deal with collaborators, a similar policy should be followed with regard to other Allied countries as they are liberated. Authorities here do not wish to give cause for offense to Allied Governments who may resent British activities which might imply infringement of their sovereignty.
Although British state they are not in a position to know the reactions of the Danish Government, they [do not] see why they should, pending the liberation of Denmark assume that that Government’s willingness to deal with collaborators will be less than that of the Government of Norway.
MEW’s experience of reports of refugees is that where it is impossible to check such information it can be most dangerous to rely on it.
Regarding treatment of assets under United States or United Kingdom control which may prove to be the property of collaborators MEW states it is likely to be the policy of the British Government eventually to release the property of persons in countries which were enemy territory by reason of German occupation and which are under the sovereignty of an Allied power, and that this will probably be effected through the Allied Government concerned, which will thus be in a position, if it wishes, to take steps against the assets of persons who, they are satisfied, have been collaborators.
MEW states that it does not wish to provide any aid or comfort to collaborators, but if the latter should place themselves or their assets under British jurisdiction, the British authorities would be in a position to hand them over to their own governments for justice. For [Page 198] this reason MEW does not entirely share the Department’s concern that collaborators or their assets should not find refuge in the United Kingdom.
Foregoing is Embassy’s 10139, November 18, 8 p.m. to Department, repeated to Stockholm as 731.