I 0 tt J ¼1 ll0 h OUTGOING TEL GRAM Department of INDICATE 0 COillCT 2 6 q ►_ z tate J SECRET Q CHARGMb U I Classification 0 a 0 Origin ACTION ' Amembassy COPENHAGEN PRIORITY I 2JU 68 ii 2 z Info - - STATE EXDIS SUBJ Ocean Bottom Survey at Thule Greenland REF NAVSHIPSYSCOMHQ 111615Z Jul 68 FOR AMBASSADOR 1 Department currently examining DOD project to send by air small self-propelled submersible two-man craft to Thule AFB to conduct photographic observations of ocean bottom below the impact point of B-52 crash Primary and confidential purpose of survey as explained during your May 1 call on Dr Walske is to assure that no visible and recoverable sensitive parts of the nuclear devices are on the bottom For purposes of discus sions with Danish Government and for press treatment however project would be billed as part of US Danish summer observation program with Danes conducting surface effort and US sub-surface in order to do everything physically possible to assure that no hazards exist in the area The submersible Star III is a private oceanographic research vessel with no recovery capability It would operate for about four hours daily for ten days EUR c1 ' 'Mr Spr ngst a t l EUR SCAN - Mr Ingra m d_raft s S-Mr a PM_ Mr Trippe •-- t' DOD OSD AE - Dr Walske H raft ooD AF RDC Gen G a ser bs_ll DOD OSD ISAn J Gen Wheeloc draf t EURfP - info P - inf Phillips _ __ - SECRET l o-Yl - r - -DECLASSIFIED Authority 1 mr 8b900Ci I 1 Cla ssifica t io n w- _J h COPENHAGEN SECRET Class iii ca t i o11 - Project will likely result in Danish and international press 7 peculation that survey is really effort to find missing bomb or import nt components Consequently we believe project would require approval highest levels Danish Government and especially well thoug ht out scenario for public affairs treatment 3 We would very much appreciate your personal comments and sugges- tions re following before we provide you with instructions and press guidance a what would be best means of approach to Danish Government to assure high level consideration and approval while at same time maintaining excellent cooperation and consultation at scientific level In this connection General Glasser planning be in Copenhagen on July 18 and could describe project to Dr Koch At same time Embassy could make simultaneous but low key approach to Foreign Ministry at level you deem appropriate Alternatively single approach could be made by General Glasser and accompanying Emboff perhaps DCM to Koch and Fenoff rep who would be asked to obtain full Danish Government concurrence b should progect be carried out we believe publicity must be coordinated with Danish Government and that survey be treated simply as part of joint scientific observation effort to be undertaken this summer Possibly low key announcement of project could be contained in joint or entirely Danish release describing summer scientific prog ram In unlikely event significant and recoverable bomb parts are observed _J L FO R M DS-322A -i TtN UATI O N S H EET DECLASSIFIED Authority •EGRET ND9b9C C r ssi icatio11 COPENHAGEN l- SECRET Classi icatio11 · ' Navy xk salvage vessel would be sent to Thule a lmost immediately t o7 undertake recove r y 4 This wo uld of course require new press g uidan ceo In view relatively short ice-free period for survey we wo uld like to work out USG position before General Glasser arrives in Copenhagen and hope to have your views by Washington COB July 15 0 GP-1 End f L _J -DECLASSIFIED FORM DS-322A 8 -63 CONTINUAT I ON SH EET I r-OUB Authority Nw X C fcat i f - T _ __ O ll