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ACTION EUR-25
INFO OCT-01 ISO-00 SS-20 PM-07 PRS-01 INR-10 DRC-01 RSC-01
SSO-00 INRE-00 ( ISO ) W
--------------------- 051601
O 061539Z MAY 74
FM AMEMBASSY OSLO
TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 8176
S E C R E T OSLO 1806
STADIS///////////////////////////
FOR AMBASSADOR BYRNE (EUR/NE) FROM BUCHANAN
E.O. 11652: GDS
TAGS: PFOR MARR NO OVIP (SCHLESINGER, JAMES R.)
SUBJ: SECDEF VISIT TO NORWAY
1. IN CONNECTION YOUR CONSULTATIONS, AND AS FOLLOW-UP
TO YOUR CONVERSATION HERE WITH DEFENSE MINISTER FOSTERVOLL,
YOU WILL WISH TO KNOW WE HAVE DELIVERED FOLLOWING MESSAGE
TO FOSTERVOLL FROM SECRETARY SCHLESINGER (TRANSMITTED IN
MESSAGE TO DAO, SECRET EYES ONLY OASD/ISA 04368 APRIL 1974):
2. BEGIN TEXT. DEAR MR. MINISTER: YOUR EMBASSY IN
WASHINGTON HAS EXTENDED YOUR KIND INVITATION FOR ME TO
VISIT NORTH NORWAY. I VERY MUCH APPRECIATE YOUR THOUGHT-
FULNESS AND ACCEPT WITH PLEASURE. OF THE TWO TRAVEL TIMES
SUGGESTED, A VISIT IMMEDIATELY BEFORE THE NPG MEETING IN
BERGEN WOULD BE PREFERABLE.
IN CONNECTION WITH OUR MUTUAL CONCERN FOR THE NORTHERN
FLANK AND NATO'S CAPABILITY TO REINFORCE IN NORWAY, IT
SEEMS USEFUL TO CONSIDER HOLDING A REINFORCEMENT EXERCISE
IN NORTH NORWAY BY A U.S. AIR FORCE F4 SQUADRON DURING
MY VISIT, PROVIDED YOU THINK BOTH THE EXERCISE AND THE
TIMING APPROPRIATE. IF DESIRED THE EXERCISE COULD BE
JOINT, INVOLVING NORWEGIAN AIR FORCE ELEMENTS.
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IF YOU AGREE, OUR STAFFS CAN WORK OUT THE DETAILS OF THE
EXERCISE AND THE VISIT TO INCLUDE TIMING.
I LOOK FORWARD TO EXCHANGING VIEWS WITH YOU WHEN I VISIT
YOUR COUNTRY. MOST SINCERELY YOURS, JAMES R SCHLESINGER.
END TEXT.
3. ENGH IN DEFENSE MINISTRY ASSUMES SECRETARY'S ARRIVAL
WOULD BE FRIDAY, JUNE 7, AS THIS WAS THE PRE-NPG DATE
NORWEGIANS HAD PROPOSED. YOU MAY WISH TO CLARIFY ETA
WITH BERGOLD.
4. NORWEGIANS HAVE NOT YET GIVEN REACTION TO SUGGESTED
REINFORCEMENT EXERCISE. THEY WILL PROBABLY WISH TO KNOW
FAIRLY QUICKLY WHAT IS CONTEMPLATED, INTERMS OF PURPOSE,
LOCATION, SCOPE, PUBLICITY, ETC.
BUCHANAN
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