Random Learnings #71

While flipping through the Britannica Book of the Year 1948 at breakfast, I read Denmark's entry:

The question of U.S. privileges in Greenland, Denmark's great island, was raised vociferously by the Danish Communists. Danish scientific and business activities in Greenland, as well as a press uproar demanding improvement in the administration of the colony, all indicated a determination to keep control and not to sell out to the United States, as had been rumoured.

- Scott, Franklin D., Denmark, Britannica Book of the Year 1948, p248

While I doubt am fairly confident that the temporary current occupant of the White House or the sycophants whom surround him are aware of this, but the president't second-term rants focus on acquiring Greenland is not necessarily that unusual:

• 1867: Secretary of State William Seward proposed acquiring both Greenland and Iceland for its natural resources, but Congress was concerned about the purchase of Alaska from Russia;
• 1910: A three-way trade of territories between Denmark, the United States, and Germany would have seen the US acquire Greenland in exchange for the Philippines, but ultimately the deal was seen as audacious;
• 1946: President Harry Truman offered to buy Greenland as military leaders believed it would play a critical role in the Cold War, but ultimately Denmark decided to not sell.

The article Reasons of State: Why Didn't Denmark Sell Greenland? identifies reasons that should have compelled Denmark to seel but is unable to clearly state why Denmark shouldn't and didn't: post-WWII Denmark owed the US more than $70m which necessitated a repayment plan; Denmark had substantial political, financial and infrastructure problems to solve after German occupation; Greenland was a boondongle or white elephant on Danish budgets. The only explanation is that Denmark became symbolic and therefore national pride dictated the decision to retail.

And there's a precedent: after World War I, Denmark sold the Virgin Islands to the United States via the Treaty of the Danish West Indies, the concern of Germany invading Denmark and the islands becoming German as well, violating the Monroe Doctrine. In the end, local security was more important and the United States reconfirmed Danish sovereignty on Greenland as part of the treaty.

So the recent talk of a Greenland land grab does have a longer history behind it, not that I expect anyone in the current government knows or understands that!

Image Credits

• "Scene from Illulissat, Greenland" by United Nations Photo is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0.