740.00112 European War 1939/10509a: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in the United Kingdom (Winant)
2764. For the Ambassador and Reifler.
- 1.
- Stockholm’s 1191, April 7 (repeated to London as Stockholm’s 258)77 supports our belief that immediate presentation of the note given in the Department’s 2604, April 3 (576 to Stockholm) would produce fruitful results. Accordingly, Johnson is being instructed to make his démarche as soon as possible after the Easter holidays even if British concurrence cannot be obtained.
- 2.
- As we would much prefer, however, to have the British associated
with our démarche either through presentation
of a joint note or through a parallel but independent approach
through Mallet, we make the following observations on the numbered
points outlined in your 2836, April 6:
- (1)
- We have no objection in principle to asking the Russians to support our approach but because of the paramount importance of the [Page 494] time element prefer not to delay presentation of the note until Soviet concurrence can be obtained.
- (2)
- We entirely agree with the British as to the undesirability of risking the present restrictions on ball bearings and other advantages arising out of the 1943 War Trade Agreement and do not now contemplate any action calculated to jeopardize the Agreement.
- (3)
- We regret that a crossing of telegrams resulted in the British going ahead with the approach through Wallenberg but now that that approach has been initiated we agree to its continuance provided the objectives sought through this channel are altered to conform to the objectives outlined in our note which will shortly be presented by Johnson to the Swedish Government. We sincerely hope, however, that the British approach to SKF through Wallenberg will be handled in such a way as not to cross wires with our formal approach to the Swedish Government.
- (4)
- In order to meet the British point of view in so far as is
possible we propose to alter unnumbered paragraph 2 of
subparagraph 4 of paragraph 2 of our 2604 to read as
follows:
“On the other hand, the American Government states quite frankly that if its desires in this matter, which vitally concern the lives of countless American soldiers, are not met, serious consideration will be given to the use directly against SKF of measures at the disposal of the American Government. In this connection the American Government has observed with concern the general attitude and cooperation with Germany in various ways of responsible officials of SKF, including Mr. Hamberg.”
- (5)
- We agree to the British proposal for a demand for an embargo for a definite period of 3 months during which negotiations could take place and subparagraph a of Paragraph 3 of the Department’s 2604 to London (576 to Stockholm) is modified accordingly.
- 3.
- Please present the foregoing to Mr. Eden and other interested British officials as soon as possible and telegraph both the Department and Stockholm the results of your conversations.
- 4.
- For Johnson: Please consider the foregoing as instructions to you as well as to London. In accordance with the recommendations contained in your 1191, April 7, 6 p.m. (258 to London) you are authorized to deliver a note modified as above to the Swedish Foreign Office as soon as possible after the Easter holidays. You should keep in close touch with Mallet in order that you and he may coordinate your actions should he receive authorizing instructions from London.
Sent to London, repeated to Stockholm as Department’s no. 609.
- Not printed.↩