Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-11-05
TO INSPECT COOK DATA
National Geographic Society
Cables for Permission.
MESSAGE TO COPENHAGEN
Representative to Be Appointed in
Case Reply Is Favorable.
RESEARCH COMMITTEE NAMED
State Department Declines to Take
Action-Win Not Be Drawn
Into Controversy.
RESEARCH COMMITTEE NAMED

Members OF the National Geographic
Society are eagerly awaiting the reply of
the officers Of the University of Copen-
hagen to the cablegram sent them last
night asking permission for members OF
the society to be present when DIR. Cook 8
records are examined.
1t Is expected that a favorable reply
will be received. and In that event COM
mittee of three members of the Geo
graphic Society will be named to make
the journey to Copenhagen.
The cablegram sent to the university
last night read as follows:
The National Geographic Society is
about to send representatives to Copen-
hagen. and as our committee had access
to the original records of Commander
versity of Copenhagen to grant them the
courtesy OF being present at the omciai
(SgnedD MOORE. President"
Committee of Research.
committee of research was named
composed of Henry Gannett. chief
geographer at the geological survey; Rear
Admiral Colby NJ. Chester. former super
intendent of the United States naval OBJ
servatory: o. Fl. Tittman. superintendent
of the United States coast and geodetic
survey. and Prof. j. Howard Gore, for
merly Of George Washington University
The committee to make the trip to
Copenhagen will be appointed from the
members of the committee Of research.
THE society," said Prof. Moore last
evening. desires in no way to discredit
DIR. Cook. We awarded Commander
Peary a medal for his polar achievements
and feel that IL DIR. Cook has accom-
pished the same feat he also should be
honored- Furthermore. 1t In the desire OF
the society to satisfy it's membership OF
The truth of the matter.
THE committee sent to Denmark vii
be an unbiased one, composed OF three
scientists OF recognized merit. Their work
in the examination Of the report, mas
much as some of them have had a chance
TO -ead Commander Peary's data, would
doubtless be of value to the University OF
Copenhagen"
Declines to Act.
The State Department has declined to
take any action that would tend to draw
1t into the CoOk-Peary north pole con-
troversy. and refused to grant the request
OF a commission from the National Geo.
graphic Society to cable Minister Egan
to ask the university for permission to
examine the records. The committee that
called on Assistant Secretary Wilson was
composed of Henry Gannett, the gov
ernment's chief geographer; John Joy Ed
son. former president of the Washington
Board Of Trade and an official Of the So
ciety: Prof. J. H. Gore, Gilbert H. Gros-
venor and Frederick V. Coville.
Taking the matter under advisement the
department decided II could not accede
TO the committees request. 1t was felt
that such action would constitute oficial
recognition of Commander Peary as
against DR.. Cook. that any unusual action
on its part might be interpreted as an
Endorsement Of the claim Of one or the
other OF the two explorers as to priority
of discovery of the. pole. The department
has notified Secretary Grosvenor Of the
society Of Its attitude.
Letters Of Introduction Only.
The members Of the committee which
will go to Copenhagen for the Geographic
Society will be provided with tho usual
letters of introduction from the State
Department to the American diplomatic
Officers abroad asking that the committee
be given all courtesies or assistance posi-.
BILE consistent with the oficial duties Of
the diplomatic representatives. Letters
of this character are frequently issued to
citizens of the United States travelling
abroad
Determined efforts will be made by the
committee to secure the Cook data DIR.
Cook will be afforded every opportunity
TO place his records. or any information
bearing on his trip, before the committee.
which soon after it's appointment will
communicate with him directly. The Ma
tional Geographical Society. ii was stated
by member Of that organization stands
ready to honor Dr. Cook with a medal
similar TO the one conferred upon Com
mander Peary IL he can prove clearly as
the latter did that he reached the north
pole.