Steely-haired, steel-wise Edward R. Stettinius Jr. went after enemy steel.
His talks in London with Prime Minister Winston Churchill and Foreign Secretary Anthony Eden were quickly followed by diplomatic action. Simultaneous U.S.British notes cracked down on neutrals supplying Germany with ball bearings, chromium, tungsten. Toughening their attitudes, the Allies emphasized Cordell Hull's warning that neutrals must abandon munitions trade with Germany or face the consequences.
Startled Sweden. Hemmed, trade-conscious Sweden received its warning with a surprised gasp. Giant, Swedish-owned SKF (Svenska Kullager-fabriken) has had its Schweinfurt and Paris factories blitzed by American...
