859B.801/15a Suppl.: Telegram

The Secretary of State to the Minister in Denmark ( Atherton )

268. The Danish Minister has received an inquiry from the Foreign Office in Copenhagen regarding the accuracy of reports that Canadian and American “police troops” have been sent to Greenland. We have told him that such reports are untrue and suggested the possibility that they probably refer to the employment by the Ivigtut Mine Company of the policemen mentioned in paragraph numbered 2 of the Department’s 220, August 4 [24], 6 p.m.

If you have not already done so, you may inform the Foreign Office orally of the contents of the above-mentioned telegram and add that we understand that a total of 15 American citizens have been employed by the Mine Company. These men are now engaged in ordinary police duties in and about the mine property and have been armed by the Greenland authorities.

Hull