Iver Olsen was clearly busy. The Treasury Department sent him to Stockholm in December 1943 (despite the fact that he had been born in Norway and was thus a rival of Sweden from birth). His original role was to monitor the trade and banking transfers between Sweden (a neutral nation) and Germany. Since he was already doing that, the OSS felt him the perfect person to spy on the same transfers. And since he was known to the Treasury Department and Foreign Funds Control office, Pehle gave Olsen a third hat, that of War Refugee Board representative.
In this cable, which Olsen labels as “WRB 1” he describes the reaction in Stockholm to his appointment: “Have been swamped by a flood of refugees, leaders in humanitarian efforts, job seekers, press and photographers. Local interest and enthusiasm is excellent.”
