Foreign Relations of the United States: Diplomatic Papers, 1944, The British Commonwealth and Europe, Volume III

859.01/186: Telegram

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

Washington , June 19, 1944—9 p.m.

4850. Our A–838, May 11, 3:50 p.m. to you.⁴¹ The following is a summary of Stockholm’s 2134, June 14, 2 p.m., to the Department.

Doessing⁴² and Foss (a leader of the Danish Freedom Council) have been presented to the Soviet Legation at Stockholm and the latter has communicated with the Soviet Foreign Office with respect to the formal acceptance of Doessing as unofficial Danish observer at Moscow. He plans to travel to Moscow via London where he will consult with Reventlow and Christmas Møller. Foss and Doessing are collaborating with the Russian Legation in drafting a declaration announcing the latter’s acceptance by the USSR. They hope that the statement will emphasize his position as a representative of Fighting Denmark collaborating with the Danish leaders in the United Kingdom and the United States. They propose to include in it a brief review of the facts surrounding the severance of diplomatic relations between Denmark and the USSR and the subsequent signing of the Anti-Comintern Pact,⁴³ pointing out that these acts were taken under strong German pressure and against the wishes of the people. The proposed declaration will conclude with a statement to the effect that since August 29 the Freedom Council has been the only remaining vehicle for the free expression of the will of the Danish people, the King having been a virtual prisoner of the Germans since that time. Once the Soviet authorities have agreed to a statement along these lines, Foss and Doessing suggest that it be issued simultaneously by the Soviet authorities in Moscow, the Danish leaders in Washington and London and through the illegal press in Denmark (end summary).

Although the Department recognizes the assistance given to the Allied cause by the Freedom Council, it feels that the proposed phraseology concerning the Council is too strong and would create the impression that it is primarily sponsored by the Soviet Government.

You are requested to discuss this matter with the Foreign Office with a view to the issuance of similar instructions to the British and American Legations at Stockholm directing them to inform the Freedom Council representatives that it would be advisable to “tone down” the reference to the Freedom Council.

Hull

41. Not printed.
42. Thomas M. Doessing, leader of Social Democratic Party of Denmark.
43. The original pact was between Germany and Japan, signed at Berlin on November 25, 1936. For text of treaty and supplementary protocol, see Reichsgesetzblatt, Teil II, January 15, 1937, pp. 28–30. An unofficial English translation is in Foreign Relations, Japan, 1931–1941, vol. ii, pp. 153–155. The secret additional agreement appears in English translation in Documents on German Foreign Policy, 1918–1945, series D. vol. i (Washington, Government Printing Office, 1949), p. 734, footnote 2a.