Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-11-06
DANES WANT NO HELP
Decline to Permit Americans
to Pass on Cook Data.
THE REQUEST is REFUSED
Cablegram Sent to the National Geo.
graphic Society.
NO COMMITTEE TO BE SENT
Propriety Of Suggestion Of Peary
Tribunal Discussed by Wash.
ington Scientists.
THE REQUEST is REFUSED
NO COMMITTEE TO BE SENT

fered assistance, taking IL for granted
that the data and records, after our ex-
animation. will be placed at the disposal
of other scientific institutions"
This was the message flashed by cable
from Copenhagen to Washington this
morning in response to the request OF
the National Geographic Society to per-
NIT a committee OF it's members to he
present or participate i'm the examination
Of DR.. Cooks records and data on which
he bases his claim of being the discoverer
Of the north pole.
The message was sent to the president
of the National Geographic Society Long
before II could reach Prof. Moore, who
was out on his farm near Rockville, Nd,
assisting his men in trimming trees, 1t
was flashed throughout Europe and
America, in response to the keen interest
that still exists In the polar controversy.
University Consistory Decides
The cOnsistory of the University Of
Copenhagen met this morning at the
Danish capital. For a long time IL con-
sidered the proposal Of the American
society to have q committee present
when DR.. Cooks records were first ex-
amined.
After giving the subject careful con-
sideration, the Danish professors and
scientists decided to decline the offer OF
assistance. Their decision was cabled at
once to the president Of the National
Geographic Society.
Owing to the difference in time be-
tween the two capitals. the message ar
rived here this morning. when it was al
ready past noon in Copenhagen.
graphic Society, to which the cablegram
was a response. read:
The National Geographic Society 10
about to send representatives to Copen-
hagen. and as our committee had access
to the original records of Commander
Peary, we respectfully request the Uni
courtesy of being present at the Official
examination Of Cooks papers.
MOORE. President"
No Committee to Be Sent.
In view of the refusal of the univer-
sity authorities to permit the American
scientists to be present the committee
which the National Geographic Society
intended to send to Copenhagen will not
be named. It was to consist OF members
of the present research committee. COM
posed Of Henry Gannett. chief geogra-
pher OF the geological survey: Rear Ad-
miral Colby NJ. Chester. former superin-
tendent Of the United States Naval OBJ
servatory; o. H. Tittman, superintendent
of the United States coast and geodetic
survey. and Prof. J. Howard Gore.
Geographers Explain Request.
The National Geographic Society gave
sl.s..
noon:
The cablegram Of the National Geo
graphic Society to the University of Co
penhagen has been slightly misundsr-
stood. The society did not desire to
participate with the university or sit In
judgment with them on DIR. Cooks claims.
nor did the society desire to anticipate
the university by seeing the papers first
"The society had been informed from
Dr. Cook that only copies of the records
would be sent to 1t. The society has
received many requests every day from
its thousands Of members asking how
soon IL would pass on Dr. Cooks claims
and the officers have replied that they
could not act until they had seen the
original documents. as in the case OF
Commander Peary.
"As there was no prospect of the orig
determined to send commission to
Copenhagen to zee the original papers.
We understand from the answer OF I.I0
University of Copenhagen that these orig
inals will be open for inspection as soon
as the university has passed upon then
This is all the society has desired or
requested"
The members of the committee were in
formed, this morning. Of the decision OF
the university by a reporter for The
Sat. Ia. Iittmann said:
II had not yet been advised of the
action Of the university. 1 do not know
what action the society VIII take. but L
suppose the matter will have to be taken
up before the board of managers before
the policy of the society is determined
upon"
Dr.. Gannett was not surprised at the
action of the Danish University.
while / do not know just what the
other members Of the committee Thought,
personally. / did not expect that the uni
versity would accept our offer." he said
Rear AdInirai chester was out OF The
city, and will not return until late this
evening.
II have not a word to say on the sub
ject." was the comment or froi. Gore
when informed of the cablegram from
Copenhagen.
PROT. Moore, to whom the message
from Copenhagen was telephoned from
Washington to Rockville. salo ne d,u
not care to make any statement as to
what action the society will take
There will be a meeting of the board
of managers Monday morning at 10
O'clock. Then we shall review the whole
subject and will probably have state
ment to give out" Prof. Moore re-
marked.
..The refusal of the university to let
us see the records as well as Cooks re-
fusal will be discussed then.
Controversy Is Discussed.
The receipt Of the message from the
conststory Of the University Of Copenha-
gen. which was spread quickly among SCI
entific men of the city. served today to
fan the flames OF the Cook-Peary contro-
versv. At the Cosmos Club. i'm the offices
Of the geological survey. and of the coast
and geodetic survey, at the weather bu-
reau, at the Navy Department and at
other places where scientific men are to
be found. the reply of the university was
the chief topic of conversation.
whether the National Geographic So
ciety should have made the request:
whether the university should have de- !,
clined the offer; what effekt the refusal
will have upon the substaqttation ot u