Evening star., 1947-07-13
By Gornett D. >Horner

American defense rights in Green
land are at stake in Greenland II
slowly developing negotiations will
Denmark due to pick up here mex
month.
The United States, which 30 year,
ago signed away as of no "materia
importance" any claims 1t NIGH
have had there, now wants to keer
permanently the rights it acquired
during the war to maintain air
strips, weather stations and othel
defense facilities on the strategic
North Atlantic island.
Denmark's government leaders
recognize the weight of Secretary
of State Marshall's contention that
Greenland now is "of the greatest
Importance" in the Western Hemi.
sphere defense system.
But national pride makes 1t diff
hcult for the Danes to agree te
continuance of what amounts to 6
foreign protectorate over their las
important outlying possession.
Important During War
Both governments are approach
ing cautiously and delicately the
negotia tions Denmark has requested
on what to do about the wartime
arrangement. With perhaps a back
ward glance at the so years 1t tool
to complete the deal by which th'
United States acquired the Virgin
Islands from Denmark, neither gov.
ernment has shown any desire tt
hurry the Greenland talks.
Greenland's strategic importance
became widely realized only during
World War II. Airstrips there
served as emergency landing field
on North Atlantic plane routes tt
Europe. Perhaps its greatest value
was for weather observations. Mucf
of the weather for shipping lanes
farther south and for Europe !!
made" in Greenland. The advance
weather information obtained from
observations there was big asset
for any belligerent.
German landing of weather OBJ
servation parties and other 'activi'
ties in Greenland aroused concern
of the American Government lons
before Pearl Harbor, especially aftel
Nazi occupation of Denmark.
This concern led to negotiation!
with Danish Minister Henrik dt
Kaufman, giving this country re-
sponsibility for defending Green
land. Mr.. de Kaufman, since
raised to the rank of Ambassador
acted in what he considered The
best of interests of his government
then powerless under the Nazis
After liberation, the Danish govern
ment ratified his action.
The 194l Agreement
The agreement, signed by Mr.. d.
Kaufman and then Secretary o!
State Cordell Hull on April 8, 1941
explicitly recognized Danish sover'
eighty over Greenland, but granted
the United States the right to builc
airfields and other facilities there
necessary for defense of the islane
and of the American continent.
Mr.. Hull declared then thai
Greenland is within the area en-
braced by the Monroe Doctrine,
and that "its defense against at
tack by a non-American power Il
plainly essential to the preserva
ton of the peace and security Of
the American continent, and of the
traditional policies Of this Govern
ment respecting the Western Hem
isphere.'
The 1941 agreement carried this
provision for its termination OF
modification:
This agreement shall remain in
force until it is agreed that the
present dangers to the peace ano
security of the American continent
have passed. At that time the mod
ification or termination of the
agreement will be the subject o1
consultation between the Govern
ment of the United States and the
Government of Denmark. Aftei
due consultation has taken place
each party shall have the right te
give the other party notice Of its
intention to terminate the agree.
ment, and it is hereby agreed that
at the expiration of II months aftel
such notice shall have been received
by either party from the other this
agreement shall cease to be In
force"
An odd combina ton of pressure
from the Communist Party and the