740.00112 European War 1939/10–144: Telegram
The Minister in Switzerland (Harrison) to the Secretary of State
[Received 6:50 p.m.]
6546. I have received aide-mémoire dated September 27 from Federal Political Department (sequence Legation’s 6467, September 28—1807 to London22) in reply to my memorandum to Pilet-Golaz of [Page 774] August 31 and aide-mémoire of September 8 (see Legation’s 5710 August 31 and 5967, 1641 to London, September 9). On September 28 Pilet-Golaz informed me this aide-mémoire September 27 constitutes Swiss Government’s reply to that portion of my September 18 note concerning transit traffic. Summary follows:
Italian-German transit traffic northbound averaged about 18,000 tons monthly during 1937–38 increasing gradually “due to more intensive economic relations with neighboring countries and as a result constant efforts federal railroads to engage more equitable measure in trans-Alpine traffic”. Wartime increase due to interruption seagoing traffic between Germany–Italy forcing utilization railroads involving not only increased volume but a change in character of shipments and increases cannot be ascribed to transport of booty loot as Swiss control measures prevent passage loot “so far as this depends on Swiss”.
Wartime Swiss transit traffic through Germany and German-occupied Europe increased exceptionally; same is true but to lesser degree of transit between Italy and Germany both ways. Restrictions on this transit traffic by Switzerland cannot be taken without considering possibility German reprisals on Swiss transit traffic through Germany and overseas commerce. “Finally it should be remembered that Switzerland is constrained by article 3 Gotthard Convention 190923 to assure exploitation Gotthard Railroad against any interruption insofar as this does not conflict with neutrality and national defense”. (Legation note: article 3 reads in translation: “Except in case of force majeure Switzerland will assure exploitation of St. Gotthard Railroad against any interruption. Nevertheless Switzerland has right to take measures necessary for maintenance neutrality and for defense of country”.)
“These provisions are in accordance with fundamental principle of free transit which in peace time is observed generally throughout Europe. Thus, as was set forth in aide-mémoire submitted in London last April by commercial delegation, this principle has not prevented Switzerland from taking all necessary measures to assure strict observance of 1907 Hague Convention.” Further steps cannot be taken for reasons set forth Swiss aide-mémoire August 24 (see Legation’s 5610, August 26—1532 to London).
In keeping with Swiss neutrality transit war material not tolerated. Liquid fuels are prohibited; articles enumerated in lists March 24 and August 30 are prohibited in whole or in part because impossible identify all requisitioned goods from Italy. Other goods particularly useful for German war effort whose volume has greatly increased above normal have been limited.
Swiss submit annexes with this aide-mémoire giving their figures of transit traffic for 1938; 1942 through August 1944; they promise tables containing current tables in future. Aide-mémoire comments on these statistics saying: (1) foodstuffs shipments northbound-southbound approximately equal; (2) last sulphur shipment made [Page 775] first 10 days August; (3) Swiss services have means and instructions necessary to hinder shipment parachute silk; (4) Swiss admit “monthly iron steel quota has been exceeded in some instances but since 1st September shipments these commodities have remained within their quotas. Beginning September 1 however this transit will as Legation knows remain within fixed limit of 15,000 tons”.
Legation’s statistics, so aide-mémoire says, are inexact possibly because they complied [are compiled?] upon cars arriving border not taking into account cars refused passage after customs examination; no asbestos, aluminum, rubber, zinc, tin, minerals such as manganese, antimony, mercury, et cetera, passed while Legation was previously informed concerning passage lead for Sweden and passage by mistake certain copper pyrites for Germany.
War materials and liquid fuels not accepted for transit in either direction between Italy–Germany; Swiss exercise strict control over traffic having refused 587 cars between March 29 and September 18, 1944.
Aide-mémoire concludes: “As Federal Political Department has made known at different times Federal Council in making its own regulations concerning transit takes into account changes in political and military situation. Thus to complement its previous adjustments it has decided to add new restriction upon iron traffic and prohibit entirely chemical materials products for industrial purposes. These measures effective October 1 are detailed in Annex 7”. End summary aide-mémoire.
Under Annex 7 all items under tariff category 707–810 (thus including following previously excluded from quota: 707, 770–784B, 786, 791A–792B, 810) for which monthly quota maintained at 15,000 tons with exception that transit ball bearings 809A1–A3 prohibited. 985–1088 chemical materials and products for industrial uses are prohibited.
Repeated to London.