800.515/12–1745: Telegram
The Minister in Denmark (Davis) to the Secretary of State
[Received 6:04 p.m.]
693. To Dept and Treasury as 693 from Legation and Feig.61 Meeting held on December 15 with Danish Ministers for Foreign Affairs, Finance and Commerce62 at which my British colleague63 and I requested effective Safehaven program in Denmark. We referred specifically to failure thus far of Danish Govt in implementing satisfactorily existing Safehaven legislation and strongly stressed need for immediate and vigorous action.
We took approach that we felt certain that Danish Govt agrees in principle and that we are ready to lend all possible assistance and give full cooperation toward this end.
As indication of our desire to cooperate we submitted an aide-mémoire containing inter alia outline of broad Safehaven objectives, suggested measures necessary and important to an effective Safehaven program, suggestion for an Anglo-American-Danish working party, and specific case summaries involving some leading enemy firms against which action appeared inadequate. Copy of aide-mémoire will be transmitted by despatch.64
Feig explained in some detail the implications, operation and other technical aspects of an effective Safehaven program and pointed out some of shortcomings of present Danish program.
I stressed importance of quick, effective action with respect to Safehaven program because of its influence on other important matters such as defrosting.
Minister of Foreign Affairs expressed appreciation for proffered assistance and stated his agreement in principle. He said he was prepared to take steps immediately to expedite Safehaven program and that he welcomed suggestion for a tripartite working party. Such a working party was formed on the spot and first meeting arranged for December 18. Feig is to act as technical advisor to working party.
My reaction to meeting is (a) Danes now fully appreciate that US and British Govts are seriously interested in Safehaven problem (b) leading Govt ministers and other officials appear disposed to carry out an effective Safehaven rapidly in implementation of such a program (c) the working party will provide an effective medium through which [Page 923] to expedite implementation particularly if Legation can retain services of Feig to guide working party.
From Danish Govt official we learned informally that Danes have under consideration an enemy property sequestration measure.
Legation and Feig feel that we should await some more definitive and positive results of meeting before proceeding to conclusion of defrosting agreement.
Repeated London for Embassy and Taylor as 188.