740.00112 European War 1939/9–944: Telegram
The Minister in Switzerland (Harrison) to the Secretary of State
[Received 7:38 p.m.]
5967. Department’s 3065, September 5. I took opportunity during my visit to Mr. Pilet-Golaz on September 8 to impress upon him that we look upon the two questions of enemy transit traffic and exports to Germany as of equal importance and that we expect consideration on same high level to be given to both questions. To emphasize our dissatisfaction with the limited measures so far taken by Swiss Government to control this traffic despite our specific requests for drastic action and our unofficial suggestion that Swiss might prohibit all enemy traffic I handed Mr. P. G. an aide-mémoire dated September 8 which in general followed the line of comments transmitted in my 5812 (1583 to London) September 4.14 The summary paragraph of my note reads as follows:
“In résumé the Legation desires to point out that although the further control measures instituted September 1 have met to a minor extent Legation’s preliminary suggestion for control outlined in its memorandum of June 16, 1944 these measures and aide mémoire of Federal Political Department of August 24 have failed to give assurances on several points raised in Legation’s memorandum of June 16 and in all but one of the points raised in Legation’s aide-mémoire of July 31. Furthermore Legation can only regret that principle of control enunciated in aide-mémoire of August 24, 1944 from Federal Political Department to effect that transit of goods is being limited to products for civilian consumption has not yet been implemented as can be readily observed from the types of products of which transit between Germany and Italy in both directions is still permitted.”
I stated that I was pleased to learn that Hohl had orally assured CA that transit of chlorine had been stopped from September 1, but [Page 770] reemphasized our concern over continued excess transit for iron and steel, continued transit for nonferrous metals although prohibited, and in general continued unsatisfactory high level of transit both ways for material of strategic importance. P. G. said that as chlorine is not on recognized list of war materials, transit of this material had for some time escaped Swiss control but as soon as he learned of its passage he himself had ordered embargo on chlorine and that this item has been added to August 31 amended list (transmitted my 5759—1568 to London September 216) P. G. said he was glad to report that Swiss figures show reduction in south-north traffic to 45,000 tons in August from slightly over 50,000 in July. Latter checks with our total of 51,473 tons; Legation’s data for first 20 days August shows traffic approximately 32,000 tons. P. G. informed me German Minister had protested against new quotas imposed September 1 but that he had refused to consider this.
P.-G. closed by saying he considered this problem would solve itself shortly and possibly within next 2 weeks.
Repeated to London.