859.01/180: Telegram
The Ambassador in the United Kingdom (Winant) to the Secretary of State
[Received June 5—11:46 a.m.]
4497. Reference Department’s 4158, May 25, 8 p.m.39 Embassy has just received a communication from Foreign Office regarding proposed declaration on Denmark. According to Foreign Office a telegram was received from the British Embassy in Moscow on May 30 to the effect that while the Russians appreciate British efforts to remove Soviet objections, compliance with British request would not be understood by public opinion at home or abroad in view of fact that Danish Government and King broke off relations with USSR in 1941. A secret statement by the Danish King would not remove these difficulties. The Soviet Government therefore regrets that it cannot accede to British request with regard to declaration.
Foreign Office has therefore sent further instructions to British Ambassador in Moscow requesting him to consult urgently with his American colleague and telegraph their joint views with regard to the following questions to Foreign Office and repeat to British Ambassador in Washington in order that he may consult the State Department. The Foreign Office expresses reluctance to abandon altogether [Page 543] the idea of the statement on Denmark, in view of the strategic reasons mentioned previously and of the useful response which such a declaration would arouse in Denmark. It therefore proposes a modified declaration, omitting reference to the King in first paragraph of present text.
The Embassy’s immediately following telegram40 contains text of modified declaration.
British Embassy in Moscow was asked whether it considers it worthwhile inquiring whether Soviet authorities would be inclined to join in declaration so modified, with or without minor changes, or alternatively whether the Soviet Government would be seriously indisposed if the British and American Governments should issue the declaration in modified form without Soviet participation. The opinion of the British Ambassador is also requested with regard to whether it would be essential to consult the Soviet Government before issuing the declaration. Foreign Office points out that while on the one hand it might not be considered unnatural in view of continued recognition in London and Washington of Danish Ministers, and more direct Anglo-American concern with Danish assistance in the war effort, on the other hand the Soviet Government might consider that it was not for the British and American Governments to bring Denmark, as it were, halfway into the United Nations without Soviet participation.