859B.7962/123
The Danish Minister (Kauffmann) to the Secretary of State
Sir: Point four in the preamble to the agreement relating to the defense of Greenland signed by you and by me on the ninth instant reads:
“Although the sovereignty of Denmark over Greenland is fully recognized, the present circumstances for the time being prevent the Government in Denmark from exercising its powers in respect of Greenland …”17a
With this situation in mind and in accordance with our understanding I informed the Government in Denmark of the agreement only when it was made public at noon on April 10th.
I did this in a telegraphic message to the Foreign Office in Copenhagen that was delivered after some delay on April 11th.
I indicated that I had signed the agreement
“…17a acting on behalf of His Majesty the King of Denmark in His capacity as sovereign of Greenland, whose authorities in Greenland have concurred herein, …”17a
and explained the reasons for my action, adding
“Under the circumstances, there was, to me, no doubt but that I must, in the interests of Denmark and Greenland, take this unusual step. The Government in Denmark will not, as long as Denmark is occupied, be able to obtain full information as to the background and necessity for this action. I, therefore, request that judgment of my decision be withheld until Denmark again is free, and the Danish Government and public can come to know the situation that made the step necessary. I earnestly beg His Majesty the King and the Danish Government to be assured that I have acted in the way which I felt to be right, after careful consideration and according to my best belief and the dictates of my conscience, fulfilling my allegiance to His Majesty the King.”
I thereupon received from the Foreign Office in Copenhagen at 4:30 P.M. Saturday, April 12, 1941, a telegram, the English translation of which reads as follows:
“The Government strongly disapproves the fact that you, without authorization from here, and contrary to the constitution, have concluded an agreement with the Government of the United States regarding the defense of Greenland. You are, therefore, by Royal Decree of April 12, 1941 recalled from your post as Denmark’s Minister to Washington. The Legation will temporarily be in charge of Mr. Blechingberg, Counselor of Legation, as Chargé d’Affaires. You are requested immediately to notify the President of the above, and to [Page 49] add that letters of recall will be forwarded later. You are requested to return at once to Copenhagen. Acknowledge receipt by telegram.”
From Press reports I have furthermore learned that the Government in Denmark yesterday also declared the agreement of April 9, 1941 relating to the defense of Greenland to be considered as void, but this Legation has hitherto received no official communication from Copenhagen to that effect.
On April 10, 1940 the day after the occupation of Denmark by German military forces, I issued a public statement declaring, that I would work for one thing, the reestablishment of a free and independent Denmark. Since that time as before my conduct has been dictated solely by what I have believed to be to the true interest of my King and my country. My work would have been impossible without the sympathetic understanding and cooperative attitude of the American Government for which I am deeply grateful.
My conduct in the situation that has arisen now will be dictated by the same convictions. I believe the action taken in Copenhagen with regard to my recall and in respect to the agreement of the 9th instant to have been taken under duress. Consequently I consider it to be invalid both from the point of view of Danish and of generally recognized common law.
I believe it to be my duty towards my King and my country to carry on the work that was entrusted to me when I was appointed Danish Minister to Washington by a free Danish Government and to let myself be guided by the same principles as hitherto. This attitude of mine has the full support of all the other members of the Danish Foreign service stationed in the United States.
I have the honor, Mr. Secretary, to ask you please to bring this to the knowledge of the President.
The earnest hope for a speedy liberation of Denmark, expressed by President Roosevelt when the agreement relating to the defense of Greenland was made public three days ago will have brought encouragement to all Danes. I beg leave to ask you, Sir, to convey to the President the gratitude of my countrymen.
I avail myself [etc.]