Herbert Ribbing

Bo Herbert Bosson Ribbing (8 July 1897 – 30 December 1985) was a Swedish diplomat. Ribbing began his diplomatic career in 1922 as an attaché at the Swedish Ministry for Foreign Affairs, shortly thereafter serving in Paris. During the 1920s, he held a series of posts across Europe, including assignments in Koblenz, Düsseldorf, London, Riga, Tallinn, Kaunas, and Helsinki, often serving as first legation secretary or chargé d’affaires ad interim. He was actively involved in international diplomacy early on, assisting Sweden’s representation at the League of Nations and participating in Nordic and Geneva Protocol negotiations.

In 1936, Ribbing became director of the Trade Department at the Ministry for Foreign Affairs. He subsequently served as legation counsellor in Paris (1938) and Washington, D.C. (1942). From 1944, he was Sweden’s envoy to several Latin American countries, including Mexico, Guatemala, Panama, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, El Salvador, and Honduras. He later served as envoy and then ambassador to Argentina, Uruguay, and Paraguay (1949–1957), and as ambassador to Spain from 1958 to 1963.

Ribbing also held significant roles within the United Nations, acting as mediator in conflicts between Saudi Arabia and Oman (1960), reviewing sovereignty issues in the Sultanate of Muscat and Oman (1963), and mediating the Cambodian–Thai border dispute (1966–1968). Additionally, he was a member of the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague (1967–1979) and part of the Swedish–Spanish Conciliation Commission from 1967.

Early life Ribbing was born into the noble family on 8 July 1897 at Rolandsdam near Eksjö, Sweden, the son of Lieutenant Colonel Bo Ribbing (1858–1936) and Anna Augusta Silverstolpe. He was the brother of the pianist (1904–2002),

Career Ribbing was appointed attaché at the Ministry for Foreign Affairs on 3 July 1922 and in Paris on 1 February 1923. He served on special assignment in Koblenz and Düsseldorf from 27 May to 6 October 1923, and was acting first legation secretary in Paris from 27 October 1923 to 7 July 1924. He was assistant secretary to the Swedish representative on the Council of the League of Nations in 1923 and 1924; assistant secretary to the Nordic conference for the establishment of permanent commissions of inquiry and conciliation in 1924; and assistant secretary to the experts tasked with giving an opinion on the so-called Geneva Protocol in 1924–1925.

Personal life Ribbing married, on 12 March 1930 in Storkyrkan, Stockholm, Countess Adrienne Ebba Louise von Rosen (8 July 1908, Stockholm – 17 August 2002), the daughter of the chamberlain Count Carl Louis von Rosen and Countess Adrienne Louise Ottiliana Carolina De Geer af Leufsta. They had four children: Catharina (born 1931), Marina (born 1934), Bo (born 1938), and Birgitta (born 1943).

After Ribbing left the Ministry for Foreign Affairs, he and his wife Adrienne retired to the estate in , Mariestad Municipality, which they had acquired shortly after the war.

Death Ribbing died on 30 December 1985 in in Mariestad Municipality, Sweden. The funeral service was held on 7 January 1986 in in , Mariestad Municipality. He was buried the same day at Enåsa Cemetery.

In an obituary, Ambassador described Ribbing as "one of Swedish diplomacy's foremost experts on Hispanic America. He was a conscientious and perceptive observer, wise and judicious, loyal to his friends, and somewhat reserved by nature. Skeptical of grandiose words and gestures."

Foreign