Evening star., 1941-04-15
u. 5. Still Recognizes
De Kaufman as
Danish Minister
State Department Agrees
He Should Ignore Recall
Under Duress'

The United States continued rec
ognition of Henrik de Kaufman
as Danish Minister here today after
formally agreeing with him that Or
ders from his captive government in
Copenhagen recalling him should be
disregarded because they were is
sued under duress."
In making public an exchange of
notes clarifying Mr.. de Kauffmann's
position, the State Department
pointed out yesterday that a Ger
man army of 100000 has occupied
Denmark for more than a year and
that the Danish government is un-
able to act save with the consent
of the occupying power or as a
result of its dictation''
Secretary of State Hull informed
Mr.. de Kaufman that in view of
this situation the United States
considers it to be a fact" that in
disappearing the Minister'S sigma
ture last week of an agreement CIV
ing this country defense rights in
Greenland and in recalling him the
Danish government lis acting under
dureSS."
Hope for Liberation Expressed.
''In consequence" the Secretarys
note continued, this Government
continues to recognize you as the
duly authorized Minister of Den
mark in Washington. 1t renews its
hope for the speedy liberation of
Denmark"
Mr.. Hull's note was in reply to one
from Mr. de Kaufman informing
the Secretary that he had received
a telegram from Copenhagen Satur-
day disapproving his signature of
the Greenland agreement and order
ing his immediate return to Den
mark
Declaring that he believed the
Copenhagen action invalid because
1t was taken under duress, the Min
lister said:
Il believe it to be my duty toward
my King and my country to carry
on the work that was entrusted to
me when I was appointed Danish
Minister in Washington by free
Danish government and to let myself
be guided by the same principles
as hitherto. This attitude of mine
has the full support of all the other
members of the Danish Foreign
Service stationed in the United
States"
Decision Explained.
Mr. de Kaufman explained that
he had notified Copenhagen of the
Greenland agreement only after it
was made public here because he rec
ognized that in the present circum-
stances his government was unable
to exercise its sovereignty over
Greenland. He asked, he added,
that Judgment of my decision be
withheld until Denmark again is
free, and the Danish government
and public can come to know the
Situation that made the step neces-
sary," pointing out that as long as
Denmark is occupied, it could not
obtain full information as to the
background and necessity for this
action"
The Minister recalled that on the
day after German occupation of
Denmark last year he had issued
statement, declaring: Il would work
for one thing-the establishment
of a free and independent Den
mark"
Since that time" he added, "as
before, my conduct has been die
tated solely by what 1 have believed
to be to the true interest of my King
and my country"
Diplomatic Tangle Created.
This Governments action in con-
tinuing recognition of Mr. De Kauff-
mann in open disregard of orders
from his home Foreign Office, even
though they were dictated by the
Nazis, created an unusual diplomatic
tangle.
The United States still maintains
q diplomatic staff in Denmark in
contact with the government of the
occupied country, although the
American Minister there, Ray Ather-
ton, was brought home several
months ago and placed in charge of
the European Division of the State
Department.
A possibility considered here was
that the Danish government, acting
under German pressure, might for
mally break off relations with the
United States, thus forcing this
country to withdraw its diplomatic
and consular officials from Denmark.