859B.01/193
Memorandum of Conversation, by the Assistant Secretary of State (Berle)
The Canadian Minister came in to see me today.…
The Minister likewise commented on the conversations which Prime Minister Mackenzie King had had with the President. He observed that they had discussed the possible protection of the cryolite mines in Greenland from sabotage; and likewise the possibility that an armed force might appear (for instance, from a German raider) to take possession of all or some part of Greenland. The Canadian Government had understood certain statements made here to mean that the United States Government would, if necessary, meet force or aggression in that part of the world by force. In the conversation between Mr. King and the President, the President seems to indicate that in such case the British navy would be expected to take care of the matter. The Canadian Minister therefore was somewhat at a loss, and wished to know what our policy would be.
I told him I would arrange to have the matter considered and talk to him further about it. I pointed out that the Consul we were sending would be sent on a Coast Guard cutter; and that other Coast Guard cutters would follow; this ought to take care of any minor problems which might arise. Plainly, I could not, without further discussion, take any definite position or make any commitment as to the use of the naval forces of the United States in the contingency he had suggested. We would, however, I said, discuss the matter further with him.