Office of the Historian

Mr. Risley to Mr. Gresham.

Legation of the United States,
Copenhagen, June 23, 1894. (Received July 7.)
No. 52.]

Sir: Referring to that part of my dispatch No. 48, of June 2, which relates to the request of Prof. T. C. Chamberlin, of Chicago, and Dr. Frederick A. Cook, of Brooklyn, for instructions of the Danish Government to its officials in Greenland, I have to inform you that I have just received from the minister of foreign affairs a note, of which I inclose a translation.

There being substantially no commerce between Denmark and Greenland, the communication consists only of casual vessels being dispatched from here to the settlements on that coast two or three times a year, at irregular intervals. It will be perceived from the minister’s note that the last vessel for this season had left here before the request in behalf of Professor Chamberlin and Dr. Cook was received.

Should they have already taken their departure for Greenland, I have little doubt that they will be courteously and kindly received, for the hospitable disposition of the Danish Government in such matters must be well known to the officials of Greenland.

I have, etc.,

John E. Risley.

Inclosure in No. 52.—Translation.

Mr. Vedel to Mr. Risley.

Copenhagen, June 23, 1894.

Mr. Minister: In informing me that Professor Chamberlin, of Chicago, proposes to visit Greenland this summer with the desire of studying the glacial formations, and that Dr. Cook, of Brooklyn, has also the intention of undertaking a series of scientific researches along the coasts of Greenland, you have, by your note of the 2d instant, expressed the desire that the necessary assistance should be accorded, by the authorities, to these two savants.

Not having failed to communicate this desire to the minister of the interior, I have the honor to inform you that the last vessel destined, this year, for the Greenland colonies, is already gone, and it is not possible for my colleague to conform to the desire expressed in your note.

I avail, etc.,

L. Vedel.