757.61/3–1148: Telegram
The Ambassador in Norway (Bay) to the Secretary of State
143. Embtel 131, March 8.1 I saw Foreign Minister Lange today at his request. He informed me that at special Cabinet meeting called by him March 8 all members government agreed quickly and unanimously to refuse invitation to join any pact whatsoever which might be offered by Soviet along lines proposal to Finland.2 He informed Cabinet fully of his talk with me3 and declared his intention to report Cabinet’s meeting to me as well as to British Ambassador.
I asked whether that meant Norway would take such action regardless whether Norway’s position supported by Sweden and Denmark. He said, yes, Norway determined, if necessary, carry on alone as determination to refuse is inexorable.
Lange feels Undén sincere although he believes entire Swedish Government influenced to some degree by elections this year. To my question whether he felt Swedish Government reflected wishes of Swedish people he replied not exactly although they follow parallel path and [Page 45] government keeping ear close to people for reactions. As indication Swedish people in general thinking along neutrality lines expressed by Undén, Lange said he was informed Dagens Nyheter which has taken stand against Undén has recently lost substantial percentage of its circulation.
Lange is leaving tonight for meeting Scandinavian Foreign Ministers tomorrow Copenhagen (Embtel 122, March 4)4 where he stated he will press question other Scandinavian Ministers, particularly Undén as to precisely what position they will take if Norway should receive invitation to make Soviet pact as Norwegian Government feels situation sufficiently critical to make it necessary to know whether and what degree of support from Scandinavian neighbors may be depended upon. When I asked whether he intended to exert influence to uproot Undén from present apparently firm neutrality stand, he answered affirmatively remarking Undén must be handled slowly and gently.
Lange believes Denmark sufficiently aroused by recent Czechoslovak and Finnish crises especially following Danish Riksdag attack against communism yesterday to place Denmark safely on side of west.
Sent Department 148; repeated Helsinki 7, Moscow 7, Stockholm 18, Copenhagen 18, Paris 11, London 9.
- Not printed.↩
- For documentation on this proposal, see vol. iv, pp. 759 ff.↩
- The talk referred to here is presumably that of March 8 described in telegram 131.↩
- Not printed.↩