859B.20/1: Telegram
The Consul at Godthaab ( Penfield ) to the Secretary of State
[Received 9:20 p.m.]
34. Svane, Fischer, and Corp, general manager of the mine, feel strongly that adequate protection for mine can be provided only by landing of an American force. They advance the following arguments: (1) the 120-odd workers here are all members of a union and are not well disciplined; (2) at this time last year 10,000 tons of cryolite had already been shipped and if even 40,000 tons is to be exported this season it will be impossible to spare sufficient laborers for [Page 370] the time necessary to train them as gun crew and defense corps; (3) they are convinced that the Canadians would land a force on the slightest excuse (such as alleged inadequacy of a local Danish defense corps) and in fact would have already done so had it not been for the presence of the Comanche;, and (4) the stationing of an American ship in the harbor, while better than nothing, would be not entirely satisfactory as it could not stay during the winter and even during the summer would have to take refuge during heavy weather in a fjord some miles away where it would not be immediately available in case of emergency. Although not mentioned in our conversation I gather that the fear of sabotage by dissatisfied workers is also an important factor in their minds. They obviously have little confidence in either the ability or reliability of the union laborers here. They state that the crews of the two Danish vessels now in Greenland waters have already joined the local union and that they are similarly unsuitable as defense corps members.
I have reiterated and emphasized the points mentioned in the Department’s telegram No. 20, June 5, but the three urgently renew the request of the Greenland authorities that an American armed force be landed. They suggest that if it is not feasible to land a regular guard they would welcome a “military mission” or a “group of instructors.”
Neither the Canadian Consul nor the personnel of the Nascopie or Julius Thomsen appear to have any definite instructions, clear idea of their mission here, or probable future movements. British subjects on both ships resent having been refused permission to go ashore. The Canadian Consul states that he understands that he is to be stationed here27 rather than in Godthaab.
This confused situation has of course contributed to the nervousness of the Greenland officials and on the basis of information available here it appears probable that their fears in regard to Canadian intentions are unduly exaggerated. I have been unable to form a definite opinion in regard to the practicability of using workers as defense corps members. I feel that some further gesture to quiet the fears of Svane and his colleagues would be desirable.
- Presumably this telegram was written at Ivigtut.↩