Telegram to the Foreign Office on Danish concerns about the sinking of Swedish and Finnish ships, and the repercussions if U-boats attack Danish ships trading with Britain

Telegram (Secret Code V)
Copenhagen, the 26th Sept 1939 19,36 hrs Received: the 26th Sept 1939 20,45 hrs
No. 168 of the 26.9.
With reference to Ministerialdirektor Wiehl's telephonic directive of the 21st Sept, and to the telegraphic report of the 25th Sept. No. 167.
Sinking of Swedish and Finnish ships by our submarines have caused great worry here owing to Danish food transports to England. If Government circles here only make reports containing reservations, this reserve by no means represents the real feeling, but rests on directives from the governments dictated by repercussion in foreign politics. The Foreign Minister expressed serious disquiet to me. In accordance with orders I again pointed out that we must reserve the right to use such measures at all times against imports to England as the British for their part use with regard to our imports from neutral countries. But
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D-846
I think that our interests would, at least at the present stage, suffer political damages here which it will be difficult to repair if normal Danish transports were in fact to be sunk by German naval units. .
RENTHE FINK.
Prepared in 13 copies of which—
No. 1 has gone to W (working staff)
2 has gone to the Reich Foreign Minister
3 has gone to St.S. -
4 has gone to Head of the Organization abroad (AD)
5 has gone to B.R.A.M.
6 has gone to Dir Pass
7 has gone to Dir.Pol. ,
8 has gone to Dg. Pg.
9 has gone to Dir. W. '
10 has gone to Dir. Legal.
11 has gone to Dir. Press.
12 has gone to Dir. [ ?]
13 has gone to Personal staff (Hewel)