'DANISH LETTERS' BY HARALD R. MARTINSEN

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP83-00423R000600030001-1
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: November 9, 2016
• Document Release Date: November 4, 1998
• Sequence Number: 1
• Publication Date: May 29, 1953
• Content Type: LETTER

25X1X6
25X1A2g
: CIA-RDP83-00423R0006000300
May 29, 1953,
U,11'S SENS EFTF,
MIXER q ttliE3
- KOBENHAV
C
Dear Sirg
...iv At the plebisette on Thursday, May 28, the new Danish Constitution
"0- was adopted by the votes of 46 per cent of all voters. According to the
present Constitution, at least 45 per cent of all voters had to vote for
a proposed Constitution in order to oarry it. 1,181,173 voters voted yes
for the new ConstitUtion and 318,o75 voted ne. At the same tilde, a plebis-
cite was held to decide whether the future voting age was to be 23 or 21
Years of age. 838,364 voters ye-tad for 23 years and 6989339 voted for 21
years; accordingly, the voting age will be 23 yearac
The new Constitution will be signed by the King on the Danish Consti-
tution Day, June 5. The most important changes made by the new Constitution
0a,e that the Rigsdag will consist in the futu-e- :of single chamber of 179
members, that 1/3 of the members of the Rtgsdag a.e able to have a bill pas-
sed by a mejority submitted to .a plebiscite, Exeepted from this provision,
however, are tax bills, bills providing for the fulfillment of existing in-
ternational treaties and bills for expropriation. The fact that bills for
expropriation cannot be submitted to a plebiscite is accounted for by the
circumstances that a minority in the Rigsdag is able to have the final adop-
tion of sueh bills postponed until after-elections are held to the Rigsdag.
Among further ehanges are the adoption of female right of succession
to the Danish -throne. Greenland, previously a colony, is made a part of Den-
mark. Furthermore, the Rigsdag is empowered to give up parts of Danish sove-
reignty to international authorities, established through mutual agreement
with other states. Such a transfer of sovereingty requires a 5/6 majority.
The first elections under the new Constitution will be held in Septem-
ber, and it is likely that the Government of Erik Eriksexr.i.-ct - in
power until .-then '1 ab
Farmtem Produetion e !HAD
Whiie,suniTine and rain, warm weather eand cold are alt ing and
giving Us real farmers' weather promising another large erop in Denmark
and while our government and eeenertele administration Is in conetltational
hibernation, there is perhaps time to dwell for a moment on one of the most
important features of the Danish ecenomy,'the development of agricultural
productivity during the last 4e years.
In the five-year period, 191c-1914, .the Danish harvest averaged 66.6
milli crop unite, ef which 2o.9 kernel yield. In 1930-34 the average was
106.6 mill. ,erop units, of which 31.2 mill-0 kernel, in 1945-49, the average
was 118 0 mill,, Of which 34?8 mill, kernel, During each ef the .as three
years, he yield was as follows 8 19eg 125.9 mill. and 35,8 mill., in 19518
124.9 mill. and 36.6 .M111., and in 19528 131.0 mill. and 43.3 milt,
Thus, during th8 last 4o years, the harvest of all crops on Danish
son has doubled. However, it should be recalled in this connection, that
S- .-1) '.tland .ejolned Denmark in 1-)2. esalting in an inorease of 5 - 11
crop uniTh. 1.1,um I 19 to 1938 the area ander cultivation increased somewhat
but since 1939, it 'aS:104:7-dening. The return of grain cf all kinds ii-
. gr'een crbps ,--th.e r:i-e--1..E just as convineing, while the
creased from 18.4 rp?Units,per-hac,.teeLre in 1912 to 27.8 in 195o and 28.8 in
1951 For grass an
yield of rots .pe xi he-e.tarehiaS-risen-at,a ST.Zwe..4rate.
This inereasneprimary agr'icultuAlemd etion coincided with a sharp
decrease in agrieulturalitaffyiewer,,Th49?3' tb iumber of permanent agricul-
tural employees, includieigni4elktiv* 4-Chil4rpn under 15, was estimated at
3039ooe, in 19449 the figure had dpiei to ,2f49006 and in February, 1953 to
164,00e.
\
This violent redaction n1,triaripower coupled with the sharp increase in
, e,,
primary- preduetion bears striking witness to the progress made by mechaniza-
tion and more efficient methods 'ofoperation in agriculture,
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Furthermore, it should be noted that the yield per hectare of all
typeslof grain in Denmark is the highest in the world. It is well over double
the European average and slightly more than twice the average in North and
Central America.
Farm production of animal products has not risen in step with the pro-
gress of plant production. The output of milk rose from 3.5 Mill. kg. in
1910-14 to about 5 mill, kg. in 1952 but in 193o-34 it amounted to 5.4 mill.
kg. Production of bacon and pork rose from 212 mill. kg. in 1910-14 to 38o
mill.-kg. in 1952 but in 1930-34 it reached 468 mill. kg. Egg production has
tripled since 1910-14 when it was 40 mill. kg.* in 1952, it was 124 mill. kg.
and in 1935-39 120 mill. kg. Meat production rose from 113 mill. kg. in 1910-1,
to 179 mill, kg. in 1952 and it has not been larger in any pre-war year. But
partly because of the large plant production and partly bacause of changes in
feeding methods, the use of imported feeding stuffs has been, considerably re-
duced. Thus, grain imports amounted to 7.4 mill, hectokilogs. in 1910-141 13,6
mill, hkg. in 193o-34, but only 2.5 mill. hkg. in 1952. The corresponding fi-
gures for imports of oil'cakes were 5.3 mil/. hkg., 7.6 mill, hkg. and 4.4
mill. hkg.
TAL.."122411-LaillultUin
The upward trend in retail sales of textile goods continued in April.
The average index for sales of textile goods in the first four months of the
year was 93 (base: the monthly average in 1951) as comped with 88 in 1952,
or an increase of 6 per cent. For men's ready made clothing and underwear, the
index rose in the same four months from 82 to 85, or about 5 per cent.
This improvement in retail trade involved a similar improvement for
whole-sale trade and in manufacturing. Thus, the index of textile production
in the first three months of the year averaged 112 or lo per cent above last
year. For clothing, the index was 118, or an increase of 8 per cent.
The radilo industry -
This is the slack season for the radio industry. However, 1952 was a
fairly good year, and production of radio receivers was estimated at about
60,000. Exports of radios amounted to 5.9 mill, kr. in 1952, but during the
first three months of 1953, exports were only 384,000 kr. Exports of parts
for radio receivers amounted to 16.7 mill, kr. in 1952 but in January-March
this year, exports were only 2,5 -mill. kr. Competition on export markets is
exceptionally severe.
The industry suffered the disappointment that its attempt to get a
share in the large off-shore orders for radio equipment failed, although a
great deal of work had been done in the industry to prepare really cheap of-
fers through cooperation between the factories.
Now it is hoped that a positive decision will be reached before long
in the question of expanding television. The matter is before the Minister of
Finance, and now that the constitutional plebiscite has been held, there shoul(
be time to reach a decision. At any -rat, the industry is ready to make a big
effort, and practically all the parts except the tubes can be produced here in
Denmark.
25X1X6
Yours sincerely,
at -cop,olas into:-.-lation affecting the national defens,
of the Uni sc. the meaning oi the espionage laws.
an er to an unauthorized pars' ?,,on or revelaiicn:
' 'tad
idle 18, USC, Secs. 793 and ,
Approved For Release 1999/09/
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