Mr. Uhl to Mr.
Risley.
Department of State,
Washington, February 28,
1895.
No. 62.]
Sir: I inclose for your information a copy of a
letter dated the 18th instant, from Mrs. Josephine D. Peary, wife of
Civil Engineer R. E. Peary, U. S. N., asking the Department to obtain
permission for a scientific expedition to visit Greenland in July next
to carry on explorations, and to aid Mr. Peary in returning to the
United States with his party.
You are instructed to bring Mrs. Peary’s application to the attention of
the Danish Government, and to request that the usual permission may be
granted to the expedition in question. Any further particulars in regard
to the subject which Mrs. Peary may be able to furnish will be promptly
sent to you for communication to the Danish Government.
I am, etc.,
Edwin F. Uhl,
Acting Secretary
.
[Inclosure 1 in No. 62.]
Mrs. Peary to
Mr. Gresham.
Washington, D. C., February 18, 1895.
Sir: I beg to inform you that a scientific
expedition will start some time in the early part of July next for
Whale Sound, North Greenland, to carry on explorations and
investigations and to aid my husband, [Page 208] Civil Engineer R. E. Peary, U. S. S., to return
with his party to the United States.
I respectfully request that you obtain for me from the Danish
Government the usual permission for the ship to touch at the ports
in Danish Greenland, to enable the scientists to land and carry on
their investigations.
Very respectfully,
[Inclosure 2 in No. 62.]
Mr. Uhl to Mrs.
Peary.
Department of State,
Washington, February 28,
1895.
Madam: I have to acknowledge the receipt of
your letter of the 18th instant, asking this Department to obtain
permission from Denmark for a vessel which is to sail from this
country for Greenland in July next to touch at certain ports there
in order that the scientists on board the vessel may land to carry
on their explorations and to aid Civil Engineer R. E. Peary in
returning to the United States.
In reply I have to inform you that there is substantially no commerce
between Denmark and Greenland. The communication consists only of
casual vessels which are dispatched from Copenhagen two or three
times a year at irregular intervals. The Danish Government last year
officially called the attention of this Department to a Royal decree
which prohibits foreigners from landing at any of the ports of
Greenland without first obtaining permission to do so at
Copenhagen.
In view of the foregoing circumstances, it is highly important that
the Department should, as soon as practicable, be furnished with the
name of the vessel in which the expedition to which you refer is to
sail, and other particulars, in order that the same may be
communicated to the Danish Government in ample time to enable it to
send instructions to the local authorities of Greenland.
A copy of your letter has been sent to the American minister at
Copenhagen with instructions to bring your application to the
attention of the Danish Government with the statement that further
information in regard to the proposed expedition will be furnished
as soon as possible. Owing to the very liberal disposition which the
Danish Government has heretofore manifested in aid of scientific
explorations in Greenland, the Department is anxious that all the
colonial regulations of that Government should be fully and
carefully complied with.
I am, etc.,
Edwin F. Uhl,
Acting Secretary
.
