/W*> September 23. 1940 Excellency: In an aide-memoire dated April 13, 1940 regarding the position of the Government of the United States toward Greenland, I had the honor to call to Your Excellency's attention that in June 1920 the Government of Great Britain had been informed that in a Declaration made by the Secretary of State on August 4, 1916 it was stated that the Government of the United States would not object to the extension by Denmark of her political and economic interests to the whole of Greenland; that it would not be disposed to recognize the existence in a third government of the right to acquire Greenland should the Danish Govern- ment desire to dispose of that territory; and that it reserved for future consideration the position which it might take in such an eventuality. Recent His Excellency The Right Honorable The Marquess of Lothian, C. H British Ambassador. Recent events on the East Coast of Greenland and in the waters adjacent thereto impel me to inform Your Excellency that the position of the Government of the United States as set forth above remains unchanged, and to add that in view of the geographical position of Greenland and the well-known policies of the United States with respect to the Western Hemisphere, my Government could not acquiesce in any political, military or naval steps which constituted a permanent occupation or change in the status of Greenland. Accept, Excellency, the renewed assurances of ray highest consideration. 859B.01/