INDDÆMNING OG TILBAGERULNING OM DANSKE MYNDIGHEDERS CENSUR AF PRESSEOMTALE AF AMERIKANSKE MILITÆRE AKTIVITETER I GRØNLAND, 1951-1963

Resumé

CONTAINMENT AND ROLL BACK: THE DIPLOMATIC CENSORSHIP
BY DANISH AUTHORITIES OF NEWS COVERAGE OF US MILITARY
ACTIVITIES IN GREENLAND, 1951-1963

After World War II, the United States increased its military presence in Greenland, thus squeezing the Danish Government on two fronts. In due diplomatic consideration of a good working relationship in NATO, Denmark had to accommodate the American demands as much as possible. At the same time, the Government had to consider the public criticism of the extensive network of American military bases in Greenland, especially the large Thule Air Base, and the considerable military research activity that took place within, but also outside of the American defense areas. In particular, American attempts to give the containment of Soviet forces across the Arctic more publicity collided with the attempts of Danish authorities to contain the press coverage of US military activities in Greenland. From 1951 to 1963, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs with varying results tried to exercise a kind of diplomatic censorship of journalists who visited Greenland on invitation by the US military. Concerned with the development of Greenland and Danish security, the Danish Government also wanted to roll back the many news stories about US militarization of Greenland in favor of stories about Danish modernization of Greenland. How the Danish authorities tried to contain and partly roll back news coverage of American military activities in Greenland is the topic of this article.