857D.20/9–1148: Telegram
The Ambassador in Sweden (Matthews) to the Secretary of State
1042. The following impressions from the Scandinavian Ministers conference discussions of military cooperation were given in confidence [Page 251] by a member of Norwegian delegation who participated. Norwegian delegation came here with relatively modest hopes of moving Swedes off dead center of insistence on “neutrality” as precondition for organization Scandinavian military cooperation and without real hope at this time of moving Swedes into alignment with west. This limited objective proved surprisingly easy of accomplishment and there was little difficulty in reaching agreement on creation of experts investigating committee almost free of strings. Norway generally satisfied with results in view earlier Swedish stand and imminent Swedish elections. Danes gave Norway good support and showed signs of having come long way themselves since May Stockholm discussions. This attributable to clearer realization of Denmark’s exposed position and need for western protection.
Experts to be appointed by three governments to investigate possibilities for military cooperation will, as proposed by Norway, probably consist of three representatives of each country, only one of three from military and one from Foreign Office. Gunnent [Gunneng?] is expected to represent Norwegian Foreign Office. Experts will have free rein to develop proposals on terms of a Scandinavian military alliance including practical details of staff cooperation, standardization of materiel, etc. with understanding that neither “neutrality” nor ties with west are to be discussed. On the whole Norwegian delegates feel Swedes have moved some distance from their earlier inflexible position and Norwegians hope that with more positive Danish support in combination with other factors within and outside Sweden the Swedes may be persuaded to take a few more steps although it is realized that they have a long way to go in their thinking. From the Norwegian standpoint therefore the conference may be said to have avoided an open Scandinavian rift and to have held open the possibility that positive accomplishments may later be achieved.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Sent Department 1042; repeated Oslo 50, Copenhagen 56, Reykjavik 9, Paris 263, London 216.