859.85/748: Telegram
The Chargé in Denmark (Perkins) to the Secretary of State
[Received September 11—10:45 a.m.]
331. I have received the following note dated September 10th from the Minister of Foreign Affairs.
“It is with the deepest concern that I have learnt from your note of 18th ultimo that the Danish vessels lying in American and Philippine Island ports have been requisitioned. A step such as that now taken by the Government of the United States which is likely to endanger the said vessels and to deprive the Danish community of some of the assets most necessary for its economic recovery when the present war situation is over must naturally cause great anxiety to the Danish Government.
I cannot agree with the statement made in your above-mentioned note to the effect that the right of the American Government to requisition the ships exists under international law. On the contrary the Danish Government must decidedly consider it at variance with international law that a neutral power as the United States should requisition on her territory ships belonging to citizens of a friendly nation, ships which have at the express instruction of their Government repaired to American and Philippine ports in the expectation of obtaining there the protection due to them by virtue of the neutrality of the United States.
In view of the above the Danish Government must protest most emphatically against encroachment which has been made on Danish property through the requisitioning of the ships and insist on the immediate restitution of the ships to their lawful owners.
I have the honor to ask you to inform your Government of the contents of this note, and beg you receive, Monsieur Chargé d’Affaires, the assurance of my high consideration.”