Kommuniké nr 40/1946

This document is a press communiqué (No. 40/1946) issued on July 22, 1946, by the Press Department of the Swedish Defense Staff. It addresses the ongoing reports of luminous phenomena observed over Sweden since the beginning of July 1946. The Defense Staff states that the origin of these phenomena remains uncertain, though they suggest a strong possibility that they are the result of experiments with remote-controlled weapons conducted by a foreign power. The document expresses concern that the foreign power responsible for these experiments might be using reports published in the Swedish press to gather detailed information about projectile trajectories and impact sites. To counter this, the Defense Staff requests that the press restrict their reporting. Specifically, they ask that journalists limit geographic descriptions to broad areas—'Northern Sweden,' 'Central Sweden,' or 'Southern Sweden'—and refrain from publishing the direction of the observed phenomena or whether the objects landed on land or in water. Instead, the Defense Staff asks that such specific details be submitted directly to the Defense Staff's anti-aircraft department or to the news agency TT, which agreed to forward the information. The communiqué emphasizes that it is not the intent to suppress publicity regarding the phenomena, but rather to manage the flow of information for national security reasons. The document is signed by Gustaf Reuterswärd of the Tidningarnas Telegrambyrå and supported by Ivar Anderson, Chairman of the Publicist Club.