File No. 659.119/151
The Danish Minister (
Brun
) to the
Secretary of State
Washington
,
December 22, 1917
.
[Received December 27.]
Dear Mr. Secretary of State: I beg to
enclose copies of a letter to me from the War Trade Board, dated
December 14, and of my reply, dated December 22,1 regarding the
intention to permit two [Page 1101]
cargoes of kerosene and coffee to go to Denmark from the United
States at this Christmas time.
The Danish Government has instructed me to express to the Government
of the United States their warm thanks for the generous Christmas
gift to Denmark and for the good will and friendship of which the
offer of two cargoes at this time is such a handsome and genuine
testimony.
It is with a very deep feeling of the meaning and importance of this
good will that I attempt to interpret to you the thanks of my
Government and that I beg your leave to add the assurance that no
less friendship and good will is felt in Denmark towards the United
States, their Government and people.
Believe me [etc.]
[Enclosure]
The Acting Chairman of the War Trade
Board (
Munson
) to the Danish Minister (
Brun
)
Washington
,
December 14,
1917
.
Dear Sir: Supplementary to our talk of
to-day, this is to propose to you that the War Trade Board
desires, as an evidence of the good will of the American people
towards the Danish people, that we shall allow certain
shipments, which shall be of benefit to the Danish people as a
whole, to go forward promptly. This is done at this particular
season of the year as an expression of Christmas good
wishes.
We are prepared to license some thousands of tons of kerosene and
of coffee on such ships as you may designate, say two cargoes,
and only ask in return that you charter to us, at the present
current market prices, an equivalent amount of tonnage for
either two West Indian round or one South American round trip,
which is estimated to occupy about the same time as the Danish
vessels going to Denmark would take for the round trip.
We realize in selecting the above commodities that the nights are
long in Denmark at this period of the year, and that kerosene
may, therefore, be more broadly appreciated by and useful to
your people than some other commodity which might be selected.
We also know your national characteristic of coffee
drinking.
We shall be glad to have you express this proposal to your
Government by cable, and to have you indicate, if you are in
accord with the proposal, as we understand you to be, which
vessels would be more suitable for the purposes outlined.
With highest assurances of my regard [etc.]
