858.79661/11–2844: Telegram
The Minister in Sweden (Johnson) to the Secretary of State
[Received 9:45 p.m.]
4876. I had a talk this morning with Foreign Minister Günther on subject matter of my 4841, November 25, 10 p.m. and 4842, November 25, 11 p.m.98 Mr. Günther was sympathetic to my detailed arguments for additional release of our internees and made it clear once more that his Government would not consent to these releases on any basis of bargaining or on any conditions imposed by us. In this connection he mentioned conditions imposed by War Department for making planes available to carry the Norwegians to northern Norway and from his remarks it was necessary for me to tell him that my request [Page 705] for release of additional internees was in no way connected with the other matter. In reply to question from me he said his Government would have no objection to any internees who may have been released but not yet transported to England being sent on the planes which have carried the Norwegians when those planes return to England. He stated flatly however that even though the planes might be only partly filled or empty on return trip his Government could not give promise that any remaining internees would be automatically released at that time. He likewise confirmed what has been told me by Boheman and other Foreign Office officials, that crews of these planes must be provided with civilian clothes to wear when they appear at Swedish airports or when they go out in town. He appreciated as Boheman did our desire for the men to wear uniforms in flight and said that if they had on overalls over their uniforms when they landed at Bromma no inspection would be made. Günther then said he would appreciate knowing what my Government’s decision would be regarding these planes, as if we are not willing to transport the Norwegians some other way will have to be found to do it. He remarked that he could not understand why we were trying to impose conditions on Sweden for a performance at Norwegian request and that he thought it a matter which Norwegians should take up with United States Government.
On my leaving he said he would take up with Prime Minister the question of additional internee releases and would let me know.
Von Post99 phoned me this afternoon that Günther wished him to inform me of release of an additional 100 internees. This now leaves 211 internees here not released. Eleven of these have arrived in the last few days.1
Please inform War.
- Neither printed.↩
- Erik von Post, Chief of the Political Division, Swedish Ministry for Foreign Affairs.↩
- In a memorandum dated January 13, 1945, the Secretary of State was advised by Hugh S. Cumming, Jr., Chief of the Division of Northern European Affairs, that the United States Army Air Force authorities had informed the Department that of the 226 American airmen remaining in Sweden 201 had been released and were “usefully employed” and 25 were still interned as a “token”; USAAF, having no objection to this action by the Swedish Government, did not wish the Department to press for the return of these airmen (711.62114A/1–1345).↩