Memorandum of Conversation with Secretary of State Dean Acheson, former Prime Minister of Denmark Hans Hedtoft, Ambassador of Denmark Henrick de Kauffmann, and James Bonbright

0269 DEPARTMENT OF STATE 982 Memorandum of Conversation 244 DATE: July 28, 1952 SUBJECT: PARTICIPANTS: Mr. Hans Hedtoft The Secretary of State Also present: Mr. Henrik de Kauffmann, Danish Ambassador Mr. Bonbright, EUR COPIES TO: s/s, BNA, RA u. s. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE 16-61120-1 In the course of my conversation with Mr. Hedtoft today, he himself brought up the subject of NATO and the stationing of foreign troops on Danish soil. Mr. Hedtoft admitted that at the outset he had personally been against the Atlantic Pact idea and would have preferred for his country the conclusion of a Scandinavian Pact. He attributed this feeling primarily to two reasons. The first was the deep-seated and traditional feeling that the Scandinavians should hold together. The second was that of the three Scandinavian countries, the Swedes had the most effective military strength and were in the strongest position to defend the area. He went on to say, however, that this was past history and that, as I knew, he and his party had wholeheartedly supported the North Atlantic Treaty. Turning to the question of base rights Mr. Hedtoft stated that at the time the North Atlantic Treaty was concluded the Danes took the position publicly that no foreign troops would be stationed on Danish soil. He pointed out that at the same time the Norwegians had taken the same position and had even gone a step further in that they had formally communicated their views to the Soviet Government. CONFIDUNTIA DECLASSIFIED E. O. 11652, Sec. 3(E) and S(D) or (E) Dept. of State letter, 10.26.76 By NLT- HC . NARS Date 11.29.76