Henrik Kauffmann
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Henrik Kauffmann (August 26, 1888 - June 5, 1963) was the Danish ambassador to the United States during World War II. On April 9, 1941, the anniversary of the German occupation of Denmark, he signed on his own initiative in the Name of the King (Danish: I Kongens Navn) an "Agreement relating to the Defense of Greenland" authorizing the United States to defend the Danish colonies on Greenland from German aggression. The treaty was signed by the United States Secretary of State Cordell Hull and approved by President Franklin D. Roosevelt on June 7, 1941.
Kauffmann's treaty was approved by the local officials on Greenland but declared void by the Danish government in Copenhagen. Kauffmann ignored this protest citing that Denmark was occupied by a hostile power, consequently, he considered the government to be unable to protect Danish interests. The government responded by charging Kauffmann with high treason and stripping him of his rank. Kauffmann ignored both actions. Kauffmann's line was supported by the Danish consul generals in the United States, as well as by the Danish ambassador to Iran. These diplomats were dismissed as well. Kauffmann replied by urging Danish diplomats around the world not to follow instructions from Copenhagen.
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[edit] Rehabilitation
Revoking the sentence against Kauffmann was one of the first tasks done by the Danish Parliament following the Liberation of Denmark in May 1945. Kauffmann joined the Cabinet of National Unity and served as Minister without Portfolio from May 12 to November 7, 1945.
Kauffmann's treaty was adapted in the early 1950s and remains the legal basis for the U.S. Thule Air Base in Greenland.
[edit] Trivia
- Was nicknamed "the King of Greenland" due to his independent political moves on the Greenland-affair.
[edit] Literature
(Danish) Lidegaard, Bo (1996). I Kongens Navn. Henrik Kauffmann i dansk diplomati 1919-1958. Copenhagen: Samleren.
[edit] External links
- Agreement between U.S. Secretary of State and Danish Minister on the status of Greenland April 10, 1941
- History of the Thule Air Base
This article is based on the corresponding article on the Danish Wikipedia da:Henrik Kauffmann accessed on 27 February 2006.
