859.01/166: Telegram

The Secretary of State to the Chargé in the Soviet Union ( Hamilton )

1302. Your 1810, May 21.36 British Embassy informs us that Foreign Office is instructing Clark Kerr to approach Molotov again to say that the British estimate as to the attitude of the Danish people towards the Soviet Union differs from the opinion apparently held by the Soviet Government and to stress that for an urgent special purpose the British Government attaches great importance to the issuance of the declaration by the British, American and Soviet Governments [Page 541] within the very near future. Clark Kerr is also instructed to ask Molotov if the Soviet objections would be met if the British Government could obtain through secret channels an assurance from the Danish King to the effect that the breaking off of Danish diplomatic relations with the Soviet Union in 1941 had been due to German pressure and that it was the desire of the King to renew relations as soon as possible.

The Department is informing the British Embassy that no objection is perceived to Clark Kerr reopening the question with the Soviet Government and that if the Soviet Government agrees we have no objection to proceeding with the issuance of the declaration by the three Governments as originally planned.

The foregoing is for your information only and, although you should keep in touch with Clark Kerr, the Department does not desire you to join with Clark Kerr in his representations to Mr. Molotov.

Sent to Moscow, repeated to London as Department’s no. 4158 referring to London’s 4179, May 24.

Hull
  1. For paraphrase, see telegram 4100, May 23, midnight, to London, p. 538.