New-York tribune., 1909-11-05
SEEK COOK RECORDS
MR. WILSON NEUTRAL.
Geographic Society Committee
Going to Copenhagen.
TFrora The Tribune Bureau !


Washington. Nov 4-Refusing TO be
drawn into the Cook Peary controversy. the
state Department to-day declined TO instruct
Minister Egan, at Copenhagen. 10 request
permission OF the University of Copenhagen
to examine the records Of Dr. Frederick A.
Cook when they are submitted TO that in
stitution
\ committee representing the National
Geographic Society. composed Of John Joy
Edison. Henry Gannett aud r Y Coville
called on Assistant Secretary Wilson this
afternoon. and asked that the department
aid thcm In obtaining access to the data
which Dr. Cook is preparing TO submit 20
the university. The committee asked Mr.
Wilson to send an official cable dispatch 10
Minister Esan. asking him to undertake ne
EQUATIONS with the Copenhagen geographical
authorities, 10 the end that a committee
representing the American society may have
the privilege of examining DR.. Cooks rec
ords
The society purposes making every effort
10 have the data transmitted TO Washing
ton. but, failing in this. will send a COM
mittee TO Copenhagen Little hope is en-
tertained that the data will be sent here
until after II has been examined by the
Danish scientists. Mr. Wilson assured the
members Of the committee that he would
be glad to give them letters Of introduc-
tion 10 Mr.. Egan. who would that
every courtesy was extended to them. He
made II clear. however. that the Depart
ment Of State could not make any diplo-
matte representations TO the Danish gov
ernment or instruct it's minister 10 approach
the Copenhagen University officials. II
was felt that such action would constitute
official recognition Of Commander Peary
as against DR.. Cook. and that any unusual
action on its part might be interpreted as
an Endorsement of the claim of one or the
other of the explorers as to priority Of
discovery of the pole.
The following cable dispatch was sent
by Professor Moore to the University of
Copenhagen tonight:
The National Geographic Society is
about to send representatives TO COpen-
hagen. AS our committee had access to
the original records of Commander Peary,
we respectfully request the University of
Copenhagen to grant them the courtesy of
being present at the official examination
of Dr. Cooks papers
The National Geographic Society. it was
said by a member of that organization.
stands ready To honor DIR. Cook with
mccall similar 10 the one presented TO Com
mander Peary it he can prove as clearly
as the latter did that he reached the North
Pole.
The three representatives of the society
who will proceed 10 Copenhag gen will lie
selected from the following committee.
which was appointed tonight to investi-
gate the question of whether not any
one reached the North Pole before 1909.
Henry Gannett. chief geOgrapher of the
Geological Survey; Rear Admiral c. NJ
Chester, o. III. Tittman. superintendent of
the Coast Survey, and Professor j. Howard
Gore mathematician who has made eX-
petitions to the Arctic regions. This COM
mittee will report the results of its investi
cations directly 10 the board Of managers
OF the Geographic Society.
The committee will advise DR. Cook of
the recent action Of the society's board OF
managers in awarding a gold medal to
Peary and a medal to Captain Bartlett. and
of its virtually marking time as to other
polar claims pending investigation. and re-
search.