859B.7962/94: Telegram

The Secretary of State to the Chargé in Denmark (Perkins)

70. You will please formally request an appointment with the Foreign Minister and read him the following message from me as a reply to his communication of April 26, text of which you transmitted in your telegram no. 147, April 27, 9 a.m.:

“Mr. Minister:

I have received, through the American Chargé d’Affaires ad interim in Copenhagen, the communication which you addressed to me under date of the 26th of April, 1941 enlarging upon the points made by His Majesty, King Christian X, in a communication to the President of the United States of America with respect to the authority of the Minister of Denmark in Washington, Mr. Henrik de Kauffmann.

The President has replied to His Majesty’s communication indicating continued respect for fundamental Danish interests and a sympathetic understanding of the difficult position in which Denmark now finds itself by reason of its occupation by German military forces and the resulting restriction of its freedom of action.

Because of the close ties of friendship and blood between the people of Denmark and the United States of America, my Government is confident that in their hearts the people of Denmark fully understand my Government’s action, which would not, of course, have been taken if Denmark had not been invaded, and that when they are once again free to express their true feelings they will give public approval of the measures which have been taken and which are so clearly necessary for the protection of Danish sovereignty over Greenland and of the Western Hemisphere against unprovoked aggression such as Denmark itself so recently and unhappily experienced.

In view of the foregoing considerations I am sure that you will understand my Government’s decision not to withdraw recognition of Mr. de Kauffmann as the Minister of Denmark in Washington. The President has, however, invited His Majesty’s attention to the fact that if the Danish Government deems it inexpedient for the time being to communicate with the Government of the United States of America through Mr. de Kauffmann, the friendly relations between the United States and Denmark can be satisfactorily maintained through the Chargé d’Affaires ad interim of the United States in Copenhagen.

Please Accept, Sir, et cetera, et cetera.”

If requested you may leave a copy of this telegram with the Foreign Office.

Hull