859B.20/1: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Consul at Godthaab (Penfield)
Washington, June
17, 1940—6 p.m.
26. Your 34, June 13, 4 p.m.
- 1.
- We have been repeatedly assured by the Canadian Legation that Canada has no intention of landing forces in Greenland, although [Page 371] Canada is of course interested in the protection of the mine and in preventing the use of Greenland as a base for enemy operations. The British have given us similar assurances. Accordingly we have no reason to believe that either the British or the Canadians will land forces in Greenland and in any case certainly not without prior notification to the United States Government.
- 2.
- You may repeat to Svane that we are still averse to stationing an armed guard or uniformed men ashore in Greenland except under exceptional circumstances which we must determine for ourselves in the light of the exigencies of the occasion when it arises. We are, however, looking into the possibility of getting in touch with a few reliable men, preferably men with previous military training, who might be employed by the Greenland authorities as “mine guards”. If we can locate such men and they might possibly be augmented by some Canadians of a similar type, this might be a satisfactory solution.
- 3.
- Please discuss this with Svane in confidence and telegraph us his reaction together with your estimate of (a) the number of men necessary to operate the antiaircraft gun and preserve order in Ivigtut (we have in mind not over a half dozen or so) and (b) the pay and housing, et cetera, which the mine authorities might be expected to offer such guards if they can be obtained. It is doubtful if reliable men could be employed for less than $100 per month in addition to their housing.
Hull