Foreign Relations of the United States, 1964–1968, Volume XII, Western Europe

22. Note From the Danish Ambassador (Ronne) to Secretary of State Rusk¹

No. 93. USA.9

Washington, May 31, 1968.

Sir:

I have the honor to refer to your note of this date on the subject of an agreement between Denmark and the U.S. on storage of U.S. nuclear weapons in Greenland and the overflight of Greenland by U.S. aircraft carrying nuclear weapons which reads in its entirety as follows:

“Excellency:

I have the honor to refer to the recent discussions between our two Governments regarding the request of your Government, made on February 26, 1968, that the U.S. and Denmark agree to supplement the Agreement of April 27, 1951 on the Defense of Greenland with respect to the storage of U.S. nuclear weapons in Greenland and the overflight of Greenland by U.S. aircraft carrying nuclear weapons.

As a result of these discussions, I have the honor to propose the following Agreement:

The United States Government assures the Government of Denmark that in the exercise of its rights and duties in accordance with the provisions of the agreement of April 27, 1951, concerning the defense of Greenland it will not store nuclear weapons in Greenland or overfly Greenland with aircraft carrying nuclear weapons without the consent of the Government of Denmark.

If the foregoing proposal is acceptable to your Government, I have the honor to propose that this note and your reply to that effect shall constitute an agreement between our two Governments, effective on the date of your reply, which shall form an integral part of the Agreement of April 27, 1951.

Accept, Excellency, the renewed assurances of my highest consideration.”

I have the honor to state that the proposal contained in your note is acceptable to my Government and that our two notes shall constitute an agreement, effective today, which shall form an integral part of the Agreement of April 27, 1951 on the Defense of Greenland.

Please accept, Sir, the renewed assurances of my highest consideration.

Torben Ronne

1. Source: Department of State, Danish Desk Files: Lot 73 D 167, Thule Crash—Internal Memos. Secret. Leddy and Ronne exchanged notes at a meeting on May 31. Leddy reported to Copenhagen on the meeting in telegram 174887, June 1. (Johnson Library, National Security File, Country File, Denmark, Vol. 1)