859.01/166: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Chargé in the United Kingdom (Bucknell)
4100. Your 3794, May 9, 5 p.m.34 Following is a paraphrase of Moscow’s 1810, May 21, 1 p.m., to the Department.
“A note from the Foreign Office, dated May 21 and signed by Vyshinski states, with respect to the proposed joint declaration on Denmark by the three Governments as suggested by the British Ministry of Foreign Affairs, that it should be recalled that immediately following the German attack on the U.S.S.R. in June 1941, the Royal Danish Government considered it necessary to sever relations with the U.S.S.R.; that since that time the Soviet Government has had no grounds to believe that the Danish Government had modified its hostile attitude toward the U.S.S.R.; and that in view of this the Government of the U.S.S.R. would neither adhere to nor sign a declaration which calls upon the Danish people to rally round their King.”
In view of the position taken by the Soviet Government I have strong doubts as to the advisability of now proceeding with the issuance of the Declaration by the British and American Governments. There is also the further consideration to be taken into account, namely, that issuance of the Declaration would tend to confirm in the minds of the Germans the radio story which came out of London on the morning of May 23 to the effect that the Danish King had been consulted through secret channels by the British Government. Such confirmation might result in harmful consequences to the King at the hands of the Germans.
Please present the foregoing views to the Foreign Office and report the British reaction by telegraph.
- Not printed.↩