Memorandum of Conversation with Secretary of State Dean Acheson and the Ambassador of Sweden

Vi s/s DEPARTMENT OF STATE 178 Memorandum of Conversation 22 DATE: Februery 9, 1949 SUBJECT: Talk with the Swedish Ambassador on the Boandiasvion Paet. PARTICIPANTS: The Secretary Mr. Erik Boheman, Swedish Ambassador Conf Mr. Benjamin M. Fulley, Chief, NOE COPIES TO: a/a . C sua NOE WE NME Ameriean stookholm 1-1493 The Ambessador came at his request on the instruction of hão Government to report on the regent Beandinavian defense talks whieh he hed attended. He had found when he got home at the end of January that his Dovernment had reached a decision with the consent of all important parties to enter a defense allianee with Norvay and Denzark under which ench country vould automatienlly come to the defense of any of the others which was attacked on its avn soil, exelnding outlying territories. This was a padien) chenge from previous Swedish polioy in recent times. Hia country is not living in an atmosphere of fesr. Hão Government bolieved that the military talks had showm that the three countries could defend n very considerable part of Seandianvia for perhaps as much as thres or four monthe until sesistance could arrive from outside. He said that vould be able to equap and put in the field en anny of about 700,000. Ris Government thought that this allience vould be the best solution for the tires countries and also for the great democracies of the West. with respect to Soviet renotions to it, his Government believed that there would be the usual violent propaganda cempaign but that this vould not be accompanied by motive measures such ae occupation of Finlond or soving begea nearer to the Beandinavisn frontier. A told him that I realized the seriouanese of the problem and that we proposed to give it very deep thought DECLASSIFIED E. O. 11652, Sec. 3(E) and S(D) Or (B) in all Dept. of State letter, 17:33.333 Bx NLT- H NARS Date 4-20-76