859.01/158: Telegram

The Ambassador in the United Kingdom (Winant) to the Secretary of State

3714. Warner of the Foreign Office informed us this afternoon that the consent of King Christian of Denmark had been obtained to the issuance of the declaration on Denmark (referred to in Embassy’s 3315, April 2219 and Department’s 3171, April 20 and previous). The draft text of the Foreign Office instructions to the British Embassy at Moscow were shown the Embassy. A final copy will be furnished us at the same time as it is sent forward to Moscow, which will be within the next day or two. The substance of the instructions to the British Embassy at Moscow are as follows:

1.
The British Ambassador is instructed to concert with his United States colleague with regard to approaching the Soviet Government.
2.
The final text of the declaration, as given the Department by the British Embassy at Washington, is being forwarded.
3.
The question of whether or not the Soviet Government should be informed of the prior approach to the King of Denmark is left up to the judgment of the British and United States Missions in Moscow. Warner feels that if the Soviets are informed of this approach to the King, they may feel that they have been left out of the preliminary negotiations and only brought in at the last moment, and that, therefore, it might be better to state only that the British and American Governments have received information from Denmark that the proposed declaration would be appreciated and acceptable. However, it is felt that the Missions in Moscow will be in a better position to judge this matter.
4.
The Soviet Government is to be told that it is desired to issue the declaration within the first fortnight of May, but, should the Soviet agreement not be received in time, the declaration should be made as soon as possible thereafter.
5.
The proposed declaration will be signed by the three Foreign Ministers, providing the Soviet Government agrees.
6.
The British hope that when the declaration is issued, it can be done at 1600 GMT20 as this time is said to be the best for radio transmission to Denmark. The Foreign Office hopes the State Department agrees to this and desires to be informed urgently on this point.
7.
It is hoped that information of the Soviet agreement to the declaration may be received at least 24 hours prior to its issuance in order that the Danish underground can be informed.

Warner feels that King Christian’s statement regarding the decision of Iceland to establish a republic21 (see my immediately following [Page 534] telegram22) should have no effect on the proposed declaration inasmuch as it is believed that the Danish-Icelandic matter is purely a domestic issue.

Winant
  1. Not printed.
  2. Greenwich mean time.
  3. For correspondence regarding the establishment of the Icelandic Republic, see pp. 984 ff.
  4. No. 3715, May 6, 7 p.m., not printed.