859B.7962/51: Telegram
The Chargé in Denmark (Perkins) to the Secretary of State
[Received April 13—11:46 a.m.]
111. Minister of Foreign Affairs handed me the following note at 5:30 p.m.:
“Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Copenhagen, April 12th, 1941. Mr. Mahlon F. Perkins, Chargé d’Affaires of the United States of America:
Pursuant to a report received from the Royal Danish Minister at Washington the Government of the United States of America has offered to take over the responsibility of the defense of Greenland and to enter into an agreement to this effect with the Danish Minister. On the part of the Government of the United States of America, it was—according to the said report—for military reasons demanded that the proposed agreement be not submitted to the Danish Government before being signed. The Minister has then, on his own account, signed the proposed agreement.
The Royal Danish Government hereby begs to enter a definite protest against the Government of the United States of America in a question as to the exercise of Denmark’s sovereign rights over Greenland, initiating negotiations and concluding an agreement with the Danish Ministry [Minister] at Washington without his being warranted to act on behalf of the Danish Government either ex officio or pursuant to special authorization from his Government. The Royal Danish Government moreover must in the meantime protest against the Government of the United States of America realizing the plans mentioned in the agreement as to the establishment of military bases in Greenland and the execution of other measures.
As the said agreement as mentioned above is signed by Mr. Kauffmann without his being authorized to do so—it goes without saying that—it will not be binding on Denmark in point of international law.
As Mr. Kauffmann thus far decidedly exceeded his powers; and, as his behaviour, most emphatically, must be disapproved of, His Majesty the King has today to recall him from his post as Danish Minister at Washington and to instruct him to depute the management of the Legation to Mr. E. Blechingberg, Counselor of Legation, as Chargé d’Affaires and without delay to proceed to Copenhagen.
In asking you to be good enough to acquaint your Government with the contents of the above I avail myself of this opportunity to renew to you, Monsieur Minister Chargé d’Affaires, the assurance of my high consideration. Signed Eric Scavenius”