740.5/9–1754: Telegram
The Ambassador in Norway (Strong) to the Department of State 1
priority
195. 1. British Ambassador queried last night re Foreign Office report of Norwegian interest in possibility joining revised Brussels Pact. London telegram 1317, September 15 to Department.2 He opined this report based on exploratory conversation at initiative Norwegian Ambassador London some days ago. Since then Norwegian Government had considered possibility joining revised Brussels Pact and related matters at Cabinet meeting September 14. British Ambassador saw Lange late that day and was given résumé Norwegian thinking.
2. Lange told British Ambassador basic premise Norwegian thinking was that new formula for participation German Federal Republic in West European Defense system must be acceptable to France. Norway believes best formula would be admission German Federal Republic to NATO with safeguards on German rearmament. If this impracticable inclusion German Federal Republic in Brussels Pact may be workable alternative. Norway foresees two possibilities here. (a) concomitant German membership in NATO and pact with safeguards on German rearmament provided through pact arrangements and (b) German adherence to pact only as transitional arrangement. In either case Norwegian Government would be willing consider adherence Norway to Brussels Pact if this would contribute to solution of problem. Norway could not however join revised pact if revisions gave it supranational character. Also, Norway would require assurance that revised pact would not alter existing NATO structure providing separate northern European command.
[Page 1224]3. Lange also told British Ambassador he had been unable consult Danish Government owing latter’s preoccupation with economic difficulties. He thought Danes would follow Norwegian lead in joining pact but if not Norway was prepared act alone.
4. Later last night Skylstad, Secretary-General Norwegian Foreign Office, was queried re Norwegian attitude toward possible resuscitation of Brussels Pact as device for bringing German Federal Republic into west Europe and defense system. It was not disclosed to him that this Embassy already had information from British sources. He on his part did not disclose that this matter had been subject of recent Cabinet consideration. He did review Norwegian position along lines of paragraph 2 above.
5. Skylstad made two further points. As practical matter Norwegian adherence to Brussels Pact could hardly be of great significance as Norway had no military strength to contribute outside its own borders. Importance if any of Norwegian adherence would be psychological in terms of (a) allaying French fears of being associated with Germans in small group of nations and (b) easing German acceptance of limitations on its armaments which could be applied also to Norway and other peripheral countries. Second point was that possibility of Norway joining pact had not been discussed with Storting. Skylstad believes there would be considerable Storting resistance to this move.