Legation of Sweden at Washington, DC Memorandum
Title
Legation of Sweden at Washington, DC Memorandum
Creator
Sweden. Legation (United States)
Identifier
WWP25550
Date
1918 November 22
Description
German government has told Swedish government that providing food would help prevent Bolshevism.
Source
Library of Congress, Woodrow Wilson Papers
Publisher
Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library & Museum
Subject
Food relief, Swedish--Germany
Contributor
Mark Edwin Peterson
Relation
WWP25549
Language
English
Provenance
Document scan was taken from Library of Congress microfilm reel of the Wilson Papers. WWPL volunteers transcribed the text.
Text
Copy HPW
Compared to HGH
LEGATION OF SWEDEN
AT WASHINGTON, DC
MEMORANDUM
The German Minister at Stockholm has pointed out to the Swedish Government, that if the stringent conditions of the armistice imposed upon Germany by the Allies cannot, to some extent, be modified, a grave danger of increased Bolshevistic activities would threaten Germany as well as neighboring countries. To avert such a calamity the Germans are very anxious to obtain a modification in these conditions especially for the purpose of raising the blockade of the Baltic and the North Sea, of mitigating the stipulations governing the surrendering of railroad material, of preventing the exportation of raw material from the parts of Germany which are occupied by the Allies and of the maintenance of the free economic exchange within those regions as well as from the other parts of Germany and abroad.
The German Minister further directed an appeal to the Swedish Government, to, if possible, obtain for the neutrals a release of the restrictions stipulated as to their free exportation to Germany, and finally, it has especially been pointed out the great importance of having the blockade raised in such a manner as to release the German fishing in the North Sea.
As to the possibility of an export of foodstuffs and other necessities to Germany from Sweden, the available supply is in the latter country, for the present, so scant-- according to what has been stated by the Swedish Government-- that all exportation to an extent which would render perceptible relief to the German people is excluded. And, besides, the tonnage and rolling stock presently at the disposal of Sweden are so limited that although the Swedish Government is strongly convinced of the great importance of a speedy and effective victualizing of Germany as a means of checking the Bolshevistic movement, it regrets its inability to furnish, under present conditions, transportation facilities which would be required for the shipping of a somewhat adequate amount of provisions to Germany."
Washington, DC
WARE:GH
Compared to HGH
LEGATION OF SWEDEN
AT WASHINGTON, DC
MEMORANDUM
The German Minister at Stockholm has pointed out to the Swedish Government, that if the stringent conditions of the armistice imposed upon Germany by the Allies cannot, to some extent, be modified, a grave danger of increased Bolshevistic activities would threaten Germany as well as neighboring countries. To avert such a calamity the Germans are very anxious to obtain a modification in these conditions especially for the purpose of raising the blockade of the Baltic and the North Sea, of mitigating the stipulations governing the surrendering of railroad material, of preventing the exportation of raw material from the parts of Germany which are occupied by the Allies and of the maintenance of the free economic exchange within those regions as well as from the other parts of Germany and abroad.
The German Minister further directed an appeal to the Swedish Government, to, if possible, obtain for the neutrals a release of the restrictions stipulated as to their free exportation to Germany, and finally, it has especially been pointed out the great importance of having the blockade raised in such a manner as to release the German fishing in the North Sea.
As to the possibility of an export of foodstuffs and other necessities to Germany from Sweden, the available supply is in the latter country, for the present, so scant-- according to what has been stated by the Swedish Government-- that all exportation to an extent which would render perceptible relief to the German people is excluded. And, besides, the tonnage and rolling stock presently at the disposal of Sweden are so limited that although the Swedish Government is strongly convinced of the great importance of a speedy and effective victualizing of Germany as a means of checking the Bolshevistic movement, it regrets its inability to furnish, under present conditions, transportation facilities which would be required for the shipping of a somewhat adequate amount of provisions to Germany."
Washington, DC
WARE:GH
Original Format
Memorandum
Files
Collection
Citation
Sweden. Legation (United States), “Legation of Sweden at Washington, DC Memorandum,” 1918 November 22, WWP25550, World War I Letters, Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library & Museum, Staunton, Virginia.