Foreign Relations of the United States: Diplomatic Papers, 1944, Europe, Volume IV

740.00112 European War 1939/11–1344: Telegram

The Minister in Switzerland (Harrison) to the Secretary of State

Bern, November 13, 1944—7 p.m.
[Received 11:52 p.m.]

7510. In view of Mr. Pilet’s reference again to possibility of reduction in south-north traffic as reported in paragraph 2 of my 7497 (2174 to London) November 13³⁹ I felt it advisable to reiterate to Mr. Pilet that the mere reduction in this transit traffic to approximately equivalent of 1938 tonnage would not meet with our demands. (Reference last sentence my 7422—2146 to London November 8.³⁹)

Accordingly under date of November 11 I addressed a letter to Mr. Pilet calling attention to our conversation on November 7 with regard to our position on this subject and pointed out following which is a paraphrase of the other pertinent portion of my letter:

“May I recall demands my Government as set forth my aide-mémoire October 30, 1944 which called for reduction in this traffic to conform with monthly average 1938 but with elimination therefrom of rice, cereals, textiles, cotton, hemp, hides and skins, machinery, ores (including fluorspar) raw semi-finished and finished metals and after these deductions a reduction of balance of remaining items taking into account ratio of territory of Italy which has been liberated by Allied forces. According to study which I have had made a reduction on this basis in conformity with minimum demands my Government would result in a total monthly tonnage of about 6000 tons per month.

This amount moreover is susceptible to further reduction with respect to any of 1938 transit which might relate to goods mentioned page 2 paragraph B (ii) of my aide-mémoire October 30 (see my despatch 9688 October 31⁴⁰) and eventually by further successive reductions in relation to further liberation of Italy by Allied forces.”

Repeated to London 2177.

Harrison

39. Not printed.
39. Not printed.
40. Not printed; reference paragraph stated in part: “No goods should be permitted to transit through Switzerland which deprive the Italian population of supplies which are already too heavily depleted to allow their essential requirements to be met.” (740.00112 European War 1939/10–3144)