https://declassified.library.utoronto.ca/files/original/660549da1e1da73c997a69f5dfc6d432.pdf bcba99896640de6eca71e857253eeb36 PDF Text Text DEPARTMENT OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS, CANADA. DESPATCH lu: THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR EXTERNAL AFFAIRS, OTTAWA, CANADA.^ < FROM: CANADIAN AMBASSADOR COPENHAGEN. y e e Reference*.. ^ .. ?. .-k jj F3?. .?P.:. .?£. . ? £ . P.^f.'-VpJ-lfF.. K... Subject: NATO. .Heads, p.f, .Gp.Yer.nmenl; m ^e.e.tj-flg.... (DUPLICATE) C $C/JS 2/6?' f J*??..fe •Date^SSli1^.®.?. .7 j . .-l-SJZ.... Enclosures: Air or Surface Mail:...?P.VFAf.r. Post File No: ..ZT&^l.Sf™^ Ottawa File No. References The question of stationing of nuclear •weapons and of atomic rocket warheads in Denmark is undoubtedly the most acute problem facing the Danish authorities today. There is-no doubt as to'the attitude'of military leaders.' Last 'evening at dinner at the'Embassy General Andersen, Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Danish Air Force repeated very categorically to me the position adopted by Admiral Qvistgaard, Chief of Combined. Services, (my despatch D-58*+ of November 6) to the effect that nuclear weapons are essential for the Danish armed forces. The General stated flatly that this decision must be taken eventually and therefore the. sooner the better. ] Internal Ci rcul ation Distribution to Posts 2. I reverted to the subject today when Ambassador Svenningsen, Secretary-General of the Foreign Ministry, lunched alone with me.. Speaking very freely as he always does to me, he expressed a measure of horror over the American draft agenda for the forthcoming NATO meeting which he had just received from Washington. Despite emphasis upon disarmament and "'atoms for peace" he thought that the Soviets could easily describe the American approach as threatening, aggressive and designed to encircle the Soviet Union with nuclear power. In his. opinion the whole trend is exceedingly alarming because, while the Western world has good reason for fearing the USSR, there is no questioning the fact that this fear is reciprocated and it is therefore unfortunate if NATO nations give substance to such'apprehension. 3. In mentioning the Prime Minister's repeated opposition to the stationing of nuclear weapons or atomic rocket warheads in Denmark, I stated that I could fully appreciate this position if one looked at Denmark in isolation and purely from the standpoint of domestic reaction but that from the broader NATO standpoint such a position obviously has serious implications because if two or three NATO nations refuse to permit the stationing of nuclear weapons the door would be open for the Soviets to brand as aggressors those NATO partners which decide.to permit such stationing. Mr. Svenningsen agreed with me that ifi this particular respect NATO solidarity is exceedingly important. >*S£ 000727 Ext.l80C (Rer.2/52) �2 *+. In view of. the Prime Minister's statement, to me two days ago (reported in para. 3 of my telegram under reference) I was somewhat astonished when in answer to my question "Is the Danish Government's position in this matter irrevocable?'1' the Secretary-General replied "No" and went on to say that the matter is now under special study by the Government and will be examined by the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Folketing in a secret session prior to the Paris meeting. 5. Mr. Svenningsen then told me that a confidential report from the Danish Ambassador in Bonn had indicated that Dr. Adenauer is firmly opposed to the stationing of nuclear weapons.in Germany. It seems to me that the Danish Government finds itself in a very uncomfortable dilemma. On the one hand it does not wish to depart from its repeatedly announced policy of opposition to the stationing of nuclear weapons in this country (and probably for that reason seized avidly upon the Ambassador^s report of Dr. Adenhauer's position) and on the other hand it does not wish to be held responsible for a breach of NATO solidarity. 6. I found the Danish Ambassador's statement rather astonishing in view of the quite different appreciaton of German policy which. I have derived from letter No. 968 of November 1*+ and other communications from our Embassy in Bonn. Elsewhere in Denmark there exists the understanding that Dr. Adenauer is favourably disposed to the stationing of nuclear weapons. Politiken (Radical) today published what is described as a Eritish press rumour to the effect that Dr. Adenauer had tried to persuade Prime Minister Hansen during the latter's recent visit to Bonn to adopt a more forthcoming attitude to the stationing of atomic artillery and rocket bases in Denmark. The editor goes on to say that this approach of Dr. Adenauer may be one of the reasons why Mr. Ollenhauer is arriving here coday with a view to reaching a closer understanding between the West German Socialist Party and the Social Democratic parties of Nordic countries in a policy of opposition to the use of atomic weapons. 7. Mr. Svenningsen discussed at some length the BBC broadcasts of Mr. George Kennan stating that he found his arguments very convincing. I limited myself to commenting that it is a great pity that,an American of his reputation and influence should chose this moment.to advocate policies so diametrically opposed to those of the United States Government. 8. Both the Prime Minister and the Secretary-General expressed serious worries over the fact that this "summit" meeting of Heads of Government is being blown up tc tremendous magnitude in the minds of people throughout, the'world - in neutral and communist countries as well as in NATO nations -• and commented that there is a very great danger that "the mountain will labour and bring forth a mouse" with resultant disillusionment. 9. The Prime Minister's refusal (reported in my despatch D-621 of November 27) to discuss the forthcoming NATO meeting in the Folketing but to have Danish policy discussed only in the Foreign Affairs Committee (from which the communists alone are excluded) has, of course, been the source of violent but ineffectual protest on the part of the communists. Mr. Aksel Larsen, party leader in the Folketing has formally asked the Prime Minister to explain this attitude, the basis of which must be as obvious to him as to everybody else. The communists are also continuing to hammer against the decision to establish rocket batteries in the vicinity of Copenhagen. About 300 delegates attending a communist, conference oh December 1st unanimously passed a resolution addressed to all municipal boards in the capital area emphasizing the danger to the populations which is inherent in the plans to establish such rocket batteries. (Sgd.) H.F. Feaver Ambassador 000728 � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context CDNW04032 Title A name given to the resource CDNW04032 Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived "NATO Cooperation Regarding Nuclear Weapons And Missile Bases (IRBM)," RG24-B-1, vol 21468, file CSC 2108:1, part 2, Library and Archives Canada (LAC). Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Canadian Crown Subject The topic of the resource Nuclear Weapons Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Canada Declassified Type The nature or genre of the resource Text Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource PDF Language A language of the resource en