Dane Nuclear Policy Poses Problem for NATO: Shultz

U.S. Secretary of State George P. Shultz said today that the Danish political crisis over nuclear policy poses a “real problem” for the NATO alliance.

After talks with Danish Foreign Minister Uffe Ellemann-Jensen, Shultz, who attended a NATO meeting here, told a news conference that it was up to all the allies “to measure up to our responsibilities.”

Referring specifically to Denmark, he said: “If you like the benefits, if you like the peace, if you like the fact that progress is being made in negotiations (with the Soviet Union) then you ought to like the responsibilities that go with making that possible.”

“(The crisis) constitutes a real problem, as I see it,” Shultz said.

The Danish minority government has called a snap election for May 10 over an opposition resolution passed by Parliament that would tighten Denmark’s ban on nuclear weapons.

If the resolution is implemented fully, the authorities would remind every warship putting into Danish ports--including those of U.S. and British allies--that Denmark bars nuclear weapons from its territory in peacetime.

British and U.S. warships follow a policy of neither confirming nor denying the presence of nuclear arms and the two powers say they cannot comply with the resolution.

The North Atlantic Treaty Organization says this would pose a grave threat to the defense of the northern flank since it would hit exercises designed to test its strategy of reinforcing Denmark in a war.

Ellemann-Jensen said he had told Shultz that his government sought a “clear message” from Danes that they wished their country to remain fully within the 16-nation alliance.

He suggested the Danish government wanted to rid itself of its reputation of being a troublesome ally in NATO.