763.72119/2951
The Danish Minister (
Brun
) to the Acting Secretary
of State
Washington
, December
7, 1918.
Sir: I am directed by the Danish Minister of
Foreign Affairs to inform you that, in view of the negotiations which
are to take place in Paris for the purpose of deciding the conditions
and aims of the
[Page 237]
coming Peace
Conference, the Danish Minister at Paris has been instructed to deliver
a note to the French Government proposing that an opportunity should be
given Denmark to participate in the discussion of the question regarding
the establishment of a League of Nations and of all other questions
which have a direct importance for the interests of our country.
I beg to enclose for your information a copy of the text of the note
which the Danish Minister at Paris has accordingly delivered to the
French Government.
I have [etc.]
Copy of a Note Addressed by the Danish Minister at
Paris to the French Government
In the course of the World War it was proclaimed in the most diverse
quarters that one of the principal objects to be sought at the
conclusion of peace should be the founding of a League of Nations to
assure the establishment of an international rule of law and so lay
the bases of a lasting peace. It is obvious that this question is of
vital importance not only for the states which have taken part in
the war, but for all civilized states. On one hand, the founding of
a League of Nations would tend to influence the legal relations of
all states with each other; and on the other hand, it would
certainly have important consequences in the constitutional,
economic, and military organization of each country. For this reason
it is fundamentally important for all countries that their
Governments be admitted to participate, from the beginning, in the
deliberations on these questions. The Royal Government which, like
the whole Danish people, is animated by the keenest desire to see
the problem of a League of Nations brought to a satisfactory
solution, considers that it may be proper for it to take steps with
a view to obtaining an opportunity to take part in the discussion of
this problem as well as of every other question directly affecting
the interests of Denmark. In view of the fact that, as is generally
known, discussions on the procedures of the future Congress for the
conclusion of peace will be opened shortly at Paris, the Royal
Government has believed that it ought to apply in the matter to the
Government of the French Republic with the request that the
application be communicated to the other interested Governments.