600.001/4–2751: Telegram
The Ambassador in Denmark (Anderson) to the Secretary of State 1
910. Embtel 892, Apr 24.2 We learned today that Danish Govt’s permission for Copenhagen mtg of Executive Comite World Peace Council was granted after full Cabinet discussion. Approval is said to have been grounded on fact gathering was to be brief business mtg of small Executive Comite, allegedly without special propaganda purpose.
Referring to previous conversations on Peace Partisans use of Copenhagen as meeting place (Embdesp 752, Feb 163) Emb officer expressed view to FonOff official that Peace Partisans by obtaining permission for Executive Comite mtg may be seeking opening wedge for establishment permanent headquarters in Copenhagen or for utilization Copenhagen as mtg place larger international Congresses. These considerations will be brought to attention FonMin.
British Ambassador, on instrs of his govt, has discussed with FonMin Danish Govt’s decision, pointing out Soviet endeavors build up World Peace Council as possible competitor of UN.
I propose to make further informal representations to FonOff and Danish Govt leaders, particularly to impress how Danish acquiescence gives Communists opportunity profit by use of a western capital, and that it wld be far better if such Communist-inspired mtgs were forced to be held in Moscow or satellite capitals, thus diminishing their capacity to confuse world public opinion. I shall also point out that such acquiescence does not enhance Danish prestige as a whole-hearted member of the western community.4
- Repeated to Paris, Moscow, London, and Praha.↩
- Telegram 892 reported that the Executive Committee of the World Peace Council was planning to meet in Copenhagen in early May. (600.001/4–2451)↩
- Not printed.↩
- Telegram 605 to Copenhagen, April 30, gave Department of State approval and commendation to the action taken and proposed by Ambassador Anderson. (600.001/4–2751) In telegram 914 from Copenhagen, April 30, Anderson reported on her conversation that day with Danish Foreign Minister Gustav Rasmussen. Rasmussen explained that the cabinet decision to allow the Executive Committee of the World Peace Council to meet in Copenhagen was “based on Danish adherence to general open ideas”. The Danish Government had not considered the question from an international standpoint but only in terms of domestic policy. In concluding her report, Ambassador Anderson expressed the hope that the Danish Government would “take more adequate cognizance of basic international and political aspects” in future considerations of such possible meetings. (600.001/4–3051)↩