Papers Relating to the Foreign Relations of the United States, The Lansing Papers, 1914–1920, Volume II

711.5914/49½

President Wilson to the Secretary of State

Washington, 5 December, 1915 .

My Dear Mr. Secretary: I am glad the Danish Minister gave you an opportunity to be so frank with him, and I hope he realizes how entirely friendly to Denmark the frankness was. It would appear from the enclosed message from the Danish Minister of Foreign Affairs⁶ that he does.

I hope that you will do as you suggest, namely, first ascertain just what is meant by the occupation of Greenland and, should that matter be satisfactorily cleared up, proceed at once to the negotiation of a treaty for the purchase of the Danish West Indies. The opportunity has apparently come, and we may be able to relieve the Danish Government of a considerable embarrassment.

Faithfully Yours,

W. W.

6. Ante, p. 502.