859.85/703: Telegram
The Chargé in Denmark (Perkins) to the Secretary of State
[Received 9:25 a.m.]
278. Legation’s No. 611, December 31, [1940] noon.46 I have received the following note dated July 24 from the Minister of Foreign Affairs:47
“As you will remember I had the honor during our conversation on December 30th last to stress to you the concern which the Danish Government as well as the Danish shipowners felt as a consequence of the continued rumors to the effect that the American Government intended to take over the Danish ships lying in American harbors. I expressed on that occasion i[nter] a[lia] the expectation that the American Government would refrain from taking—with regard to the Danish ships—any steps contrary to international law.
It being, however, reported several times in the press during the following months that the compulsory taking over of the ships was contemplated, the Danish Minister in Washington, in accordance with my instructions, emphasized repeatedly to your Government the standpoint of the Danish Government and the Danish shipowners which standpoint can be summed up as follows.
According to Danish law, shipowners are prohibited from selling or chartering their ships abroad without the consent of the Danish Government. Such consent to the sale or chartering of the ships lying in the United States cannot be expected. The owners do not want to sell or to charter their ships but wish them to remain laid up in American harbors. The Danish Government take it for granted that the American Government will not disregard this perfectly clear Danish standpoint. The Danish Government must in advance protest most emphatically against any step whatsoever on the part of the American Government which contrary to international law aims at taking over the Danish ships whether as property or for temporary use.
On April 11th last, Mr. Kauffmann informed the State Department of the Danish standpoint in the form here recapitulated.
Nevertheless, from reports in the press it seems that a number of Danish ships in the United States have been requisitioned in accordance with a special act.48 The United States Government have not so far informed the Danish Government of any such step. In view of the constant rumors, however, I feel obliged to ask you to request the United States Government to inform the Danish Government of any measures which may have given occasion to the above-mentioned press reports.
I avail myself [etc.]”