Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 55 Part 2.djvu/371

 55 STAT.] DENMARK--DEFENSE OF GREENLAND-APR. 9,1941 Agreement between the United States of America and Denmark respect- ing the defense of Greenland. Signed April 9, 1941. And exchange of notes. AGREEMENT RELATING TO THE OVERENSKOMST OM GRPNLANDS DEFENSE OF GREENLAND FORSVAR April 9, 1941 [E. A. S. 204] WHEREAS: ONE. After the invasion and occupation of Denmark on April 9, 1940 by foreign military forces, the United Greenland Councils at their meeting at Godhavn on May 3, 1940 adopted in the name of the people of Greenland a resolution reiterating their oath of allegiance to King Christian X of Denmark and expressing the hope that, for as long as Greenland remains cut off from the mother country, the Government of the United States of America will continue to hold in mind the exposed position of the Danish flag in Greenland, of the native Greenland and Danish population, and of established public order; and Two. The Governments of all of the American Republics have agreed that the status of regions in the Western Hemisphere be- longing to European powers is a subject of deep concern to the American Nations, and that the course of military events in Eu- rope and the changes resulting from them may create the grave danger that European territorial possessions in America may be converted into strategic centers of aggression against nations of the American Continent; and THREE. Defense of Greenland against attack by a non-American power is essential to the preserva- tion of the peace and security of EFTERSOM: ET. Efter at fremmede mili- taere Styrker var trmengt ind i og havde besat Danmark den 9' April 1940, vedtog de samlede gr0nlandske Landsraad paa deres M0de ved Godhavn den 3' Maj 1940 paa det gr0nlandske Folks Vegne en Resolution, h0jtidelig gentagende deres Troskabsl0fte til Kong Christian X af Danmark, og udtalte det Haab, at de Ameri- kanske Forenede Staters Regering, saalsenge Gronland er afskaaret fra Moderlandet, vedvarende vil erindre den udsatte Stilling, hvori det danske Flag i Gr0nland, den gr0nlandske og den danske Be- folkning i Gr0nland og den d6r herskende Retsorden befinder sig; To. Alle amerikanske Repub- likers Regeringer har erklerct sig enige i, at de, europeiske Magter tilh0rende, i den vestlige Hemi- sfaere beliggende Omraaders Status er et Sp0rgsmaal af alvorlig Betyd- ning for de amerikanske Nationer, og at Udviklingen af de militsere Begivenheder i Europa og deraf f0lgende Forandringer vil kunne medf0re den alvorlige Fare, at de europweiske territoriale Besiddel- ser i Amerika forvandles til strategiske Udgangspunkter for Angreb imod det amerikanske Kontinents Nationer; TRE. Gr0nlands Forsvar imod Angreb fra Ikke-amerikanske Magters Side er af afg0rende Vig- tighed for Bevarelsen af det 1245

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