Cablegram 71 LONDON, 26 January 1940, 7.06 p.m.
FOR THE PRIME MINISTER MOST SECRET
SCANDINAVIA. Long meeting last night with the Prime Minister [1] and the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs [2], when the whole question exhaustively examined. Am confident as a result Narvik action will be dropped and consequently the review foreshadowed my telegram No. 63 [3] will not be forthcoming.
At the meeting was agreed that stoppage of supplies of iron ore to Germany would be a major war objective but that no really effective action could be taken without the co-operation of Sweden.
Position will be watched with a view to being prepared to act immediately should favourable opportunity occur and in the meantime the Chiefs of Staff are collaborating with regard to necessary plans and preparations.
BRUCE
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1 Neville Chamberlain.
2 Lord Halifax.
3 Document 25.
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[AA: A981, EUROPE 30, ii]