740.00112 European War 1939/10–3144: Telegram
The Minister in Switzerland (Harrison) to the Secretary of State
[Received November 1—1:45 a.m.]
7245. My 7184, October 28.31 I called on Mr. Pilet last evening and handed him note dated yesterday terms of which had been agreed upon with my British colleague in reply to his note of September 28 as well as aide-mémoire embodying essential points of your 3509, October 1432 and previous and London’s 8956, October 1931 to Department with certain oral comments (copies of note and aide-mémoire are going forward by courier tomorrow33 with copies for Embassy in London).
Mr. Pilet assured me he would bring matter immediately to attention of Federal Council. I urged importance of reply as soon as possible. This he promised.
As he read note and aide-mémoire Mr. Pilet made certain preliminary comments. As regards radio equipment he observed these were small machines for civilian use and for reception only. He minimized importance of delivery of 13 switch engines and hoped that this would be allowed. As regards transit traffic he pointed out that this was progressively diminishing and he expected that by end of November it would have reached normal. He would let me have October figures as soon as they were received. Transit of iron from Germany to Italy now about 7 to 8 thousand tons per month corresponded roughly to amount delivered Switzerland by Germany. Such amounts could no doubt be furnished by the Allies. While German deliveries of coal to Switzerland were decreasing Switzerland had to look to Germany for these vital deliveries. Their volume was such that the difficulty of their transport would make it impossible for them to be furnished by United States. If he were to stop transit of German coal to Italy he feared that Germans would cut off present [Page 780] deliveries to Switzerland. The Germans had protested vigorously against further ceilings effective November 1. They had objected to ceilings on rice and cereals claiming that a portion of rice shipments was from Italian Bed Cross to German Red Cross. His reply had been that this then should be handled through the International Red Cross. He also pointed out that if he were to embargo transit traffic this would have to be general which might prove to our disadvantage as we might some day wish to make use of Simplon Tunnel for transit traffic between France and Italy.
He admitted that importance of transit traffic through Germany to Sweden had now disappeared. On the other hand he had recently been asked to obtain permission from Germany to send relief supplies to German occupied Holland. He was continually being asked to take [make?] requests of the German Government and he had therefore always to have in mind the need to preserve a modicum of good will on their part.