Office of the Historian

272. Telegram From the White House to President Carter1

Washington, April 19, 1979, 1301Z

WH 91002. The following message was received from the Vice President in Copenhagen. Subject: Visit to Norway.2

1.
Based on my talks with Prime Minister Nordli and his Cabinet,3 it is clear that the Norwegian Government firmly backs U.S. efforts in NATO, in the Middle East, in Africa; in fact, on all common issues of concern. Norwegians are not known for volubility, but building on his government’s public statements of support for the Israeli–Egyptian peace treaty, he said that the job you had done working for peace is the bravest Norway has seen in the Middle East.
2.
The Norwegians have considerable interest in Turkish developments, stimulated by Prime Minister Ecevit’s recent visit to Oslo. Nordli underlined his government’s view of Ecevit’s need for economic help. He noted that he had just received a message from the Turkish Prime Minister proposing a barter of Norwegian oil for Turkish wheat—adding that he thought Turkey really wanted money. I reviewed the steps we and others are taking to come to Turkey’s economic assistance and I emphasized the importance to Americans of related progress on Cyprus.
3.
I found no evidence of any wavering on Norway’s commitment to NATO. They are very strong and very up front about it. The Soviets continue to harass them, including recent protests with regard to prepositioning and NATO activities generally, as well as pressure for bilateral consultations on Svalbard. The Norwegians are strongly resisting all of this, they are confident of their stance, and value our close consultations and partnership.
4.
In the Middle East the Norwegians are concerned about the problems their UNIFIL contingent faces in Lebanon. I underlined the value we attach to their presence there, adding that we continue to press Begin and Israel to assist in Lebanon’s efforts to reassert central authority in its territory. There was the hint that if they are unable to see any progress they will increasingly feel compelled to withdraw.
5.
As are many European leaders, Nordli expressed concern about unemployment in the Nordic area—in fact, in the OECD community—inflation and the energy challenge. We had a good exchange on this. The Norwegians asked if it might not be possible to open a better dialogue between the OPEC countries and the consumers with a view to reaching agreement on gradual rather than abrupt and disrupting price rises. I said we would examine this and be back to them.
6.
Given the lack of contentious issues in our relationship, the press decided to focus on the hypothetical question of Norwegian oil for Israel and pressure or lack thereof from the U.S. In a restricted session with me, the Prime Minister proposed we say that the Norwegians had, in fact, raised this issue; that they had noted that Norwegian oil was under private control and sold without discrimination and, at present, there are limited quantities; that I, in turn, had referred to the U.S. guarantee of oil to Israel and that I had not suggested that this was a pressing problem. The Norwegians are fully willing to explore a multilateral consortium for Israel. I recommend that Cy, Zbig and the concerned agencies forward recommendations to you on whether or not we should pursue this approach.
7.
Nordli, in this restricted session, noted the challenge the Finns face and the skill with which they meet it. He emphasized the care the Nordics take to consult and to assist Finland, and he included “so called neutral Sweden” in this process. He said the cooperation of the Nordic countries is vital to Finland although the Finns can never say so.
8.
I should note in closing that Joan and I had a great visit to my “roots” in Mundal over Easter weekend.4 The media coverage given to the entire visit was fabulous. We head to Copenhagen on Wednesday; April 18. Best regards, Fritz.
  1. Source: Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Brzezinski Material, Cables File, Box 122, White House In/Out, 3–4/79. Secret; Sensitive. Originally sent as telegram 423, Monto 5, from Copenhagen. Sent to Susan Clough for Carter on Sapelo Island, Georgia.↩
  2. Mondale visited Norway from April 13 to 18. Excerpts from his April 17 address at Oslo City Hall appear in Department of State Bulletin, August 1979, pp. 19–21.↩
  3. Mondale met with Nordli on April 17. Telegram 1988 from Oslo, April 17, provides another record of Mondale’s meeting with Nordli and other Norwegian officials. (National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, D790204–0043)↩
  4. Mondale visited Mundal from April 14 to April 16. (“Mundal Gives Gala Welcome to Famed Son,” New York Times, April 16, 1979, p. 13)↩