23. Editorial Note

On May 31, 1968, the Danish Ministry for Foreign Affairs released the following statement: “As a result of the plane crash at Thule, the Government instructed its Ambassador in Washington to raise with the American Government the question of assurances that Danish atomic policy as specified in the Folketing Resolution of February 8, 1968 is upheld in Greenland. In the discussions the Ambassador has confirmed Danish atomic policy as expressed in the Folketing Resolution, in accordance with which nuclear arms may not be stocked in Greenland and the Greenland air territory may not be overflown with such weapons. As previously reported, nuclear arms are not stocked in Greenland and overflights with such weapons do not take place. The result of the discussions in Washington creates harmony between the Defense Agreement of 1951 and Danish atomic policy and therewith assurance under international law, that this policy is respected in Greenland.” (Telegram 5076 from Copenhagen, June 7; National Archives and Records Administration, RG 59, Central Files 1967-69, DEF 15 GREENLAND-US) For the text of the Folketing Resolution of February 8, see the attachment to Document 8.

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Prior to release of the statement, Ambassador Ronne told an officer of the Bureau of European Affairs that he believed that the U.S. Government would find the statement acceptable and that U.S. Government interests, as expressed during the recent negotiations, had been taken into account in its preparation. (Telegram 174887 to Copenhagen, June 1; ibid.)