859.01/7–1044: Telegram
The Minister in Sweden (Johnson) to the Secretary of State
[Received July 10—12:30 p.m.]
2540. Please inform Danish Minister Kauffmann that weekend discussions between local Soviet Legation and Freedom Council representatives have concluded with decision to publish declaration regarding Doessing’s mission this afternoon. Text will be practically same as already reported except that Christmas Moeller’s name is not mentioned at all and that Doessing is named in fourth paragraph as representative instead of delegate of Fighting Denmark.
This quick decision to announce Doessing’s mission at once seems to be primarily due pressure from both Freedom Council and Russian Dides [aides?]. Foss reports this connection that following Council’s decision few days ago to press for immediate publicity, local Soviet Legation suggested joint declaration on July 14, but [Page 551] then changed this late Saturday47 and urged July 10 instead. Legation has reason to believe that one reason for this step was considerable irritation caused by last minute request from Reventlow and Christmas Moeller for certain changes in text, particularly deletion of reference in second paragraph to Freedom Council being the only organ capable of expressing freely people’s wishes as regards relations with Russia.
In transmitting message to Danish leaders London late yesterday regarding today’s announcement, Foss also requested Reventlow to notify Kauffmann. Latter will presumably wish communicate with his London colleagues regarding manner in which they may wish, if at all, to support this announcement publicly. Foss states declaration itself will be made simultaneously by Soviet authorities Moscow and Freedom Council Denmark, latter in practice meaning immediate publicity through Stockholm Free Danish publicity organs and via BBC48 Danish program from London and subsequent announcements as soon as possible by illegal press Denmark. Declaration itself will be accompanied by short commentary referring to facts that Doessing will represent Fighting Denmark in Moscow in same way that Christmas Moeller does in England and that Doessing will cooperate closely with Free Danish diplomats mentioning particularly Reventlow and Kauffmann.