August Ekengren

Wilhelm August Ferdinand Ekengren served in the consular service before becoming a diplomat in Washington. His early work included vice-consulships in Rouen and New York. He became second secretary in the Swedish foreign ministry in 1905, legation secretary in Washington in 1906, counsellor in 1910, and envoy in 1912. ¹

The First World War added a protecting power role to his Swedish duties. On 10 April 1917, Ekengren formally notified the State Department that Sweden had instructed him to assume responsibility for Austro-Hungarian interests in the United States. ²

The work included requests from American residents wishing to help relatives in Austria-Hungary. A November 1917 letter from the legation, signed on the minister's behalf by Patrik Reuterswärd, explained that it accepted deposits and sought corresponding aid from Austro-Hungarian authorities rather than transmitting money directly. It requested American permission to continue under wartime restrictions. Ekengren remained envoy until his death in Washington in November 1920. ^{3, 1, 4}