Foreign Relations of the United States, 1955–1957, Western Europe and Canada, Volume XXVII

167. Telegram From the Embassy in Norway to the Department of State¹

Oslo, July 12, 1955— 6 p.m.

27. Paris for USRO and EUCOM. Re Embtel 813, June 14, repeated USRO, Paris 63.² Foreign Minister Lange called me to his office today to convey Norwegian Government position on proposed additional air wing. He recalled history negotiation so-called “Nash Wing”.³ He said Norwegian Military Capabilities Committee had thoroughly reviewed entire defense structure including planned air expansion, and had concluded full wing could not be adopted without budgetary and manpower expansion or an alteration in existing force commitments to NATO. He said government concurred with committee view that addition of full wing would represent substantial increase in defensive capacity of country. However, government had concluded with great regret that it was not feasible to authorize required budgetary and manpower expansion.

Lange said committee with SHAPE concurrence had placed heavy emphasis on military importance expanding present AF force goals by addition of one tactical reconnaissance squadron. This squadron could be handled within present budgetary and manpower framework. He said committee also placed heavy emphasis desirability obtaining two IDF squadrons as replacements for two existing F–84 squadrons.

Norwegian Government, he stated, therefore wished to propose to US Government that it provide (1) one squadron tactical reconnaissance planes (18 UE), (2) and in due course, two IDF squadrons (25 UE) as replacements for existing fighter-bomber squadrons.

Norwegian Government proposals differ considerably from “Nash Plan” but would require US provide same number of planes. Country team views on proposal will follow.

Country team currently translating and processing full text of 71-page report of Norwegian Capabilities Committee.

Will pouch text and analysis soonest.⁴

Strong

1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 757.5/7–1255. Secret. Repeated to Paris.
2. Telegram 813 from Oslo reported that the Norwegian Military Capabilities Committee had agreed upon the future size and pattern of the defense establishment, but warned that implementation of the committee’s recommendations would create political problems for the Norwegian Government. (Ibid., 757.5/6–1455)
3. Reference is to a plan for the expansion of the Royal Norwegian Air Force, proposed by Secretary of Defense Charles E. Wilson and Bradley D. Nash, Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Air Force, during the North Atlantic Council meeting in Paris, December 14–16, 1953.
4. The analysis of the Norwegian proposals is contained in telegrams 39 and 40 from Oslo, July 18. (Department of State, Central Files, 757.5/7–1755) In telegram 307 to Oslo, September 27, Ambassador Strong was informed that the United States was prepared to accept the Norwegian proposals and to provide the aircraft Norway requested. (Ibid., 757.5/7–1855)