859B.7982/57: Telegram
The Consul at Godthaab ( Penfield ) to the Secretary of State
Godthaab
, April 13,
1941—7 p.m.
[Received April 14—1:50 p.m.]
[Received April 14—1:50 p.m.]
47. My 46, April 12.
- 1.
- Without prior mention to me Svane yesterday sent a telegram to the King of Denmark and published the text in the Daily Radio News. The telegram was a slightly shortened version of Svane’s telegram to the Danish Minister referred to in my telegram No. 41, April 5.18 When I mentioned the matter to him this morning Svane explained that he regards all matters touching the King as clothed with a special sanctity which does not permit of discussion with others, that he feels he has now fulfilled his duty to the letter of the law, and that he expects to cooperate fully with the United States on a basis of complete trust and confidence. Whatever his faults Svane is not insincere and I believe that his statements as outlined above can be given full credence.
- 2.
- It was unfortunate that the first news of the agreement received here consisted of incomplete foreign radio reports and this fact was responsible for many exaggerated rumors and for some ill feeling among local residents who consider that the Governor has not kept them properly informed. At my suggestion Svane is publishing in the Radio News tomorrow a full translation of the Department’s statement19 regarding the agreement together with a statement of his own [Page 51] setting forth his opinion that the agreement represents the best possible arrangement for Greenland under the present circumstances and calling on the population to do their best to make its operation a success.
Penfield