Talk:USCGC Northland (WPG-49)

Please clarify pre-Pearl Harbour actions

The United States did not enter WWII until after the Pearl Harbour attack, on December 7, 1941 - so this article should explain why a US ship was boarding a German-controlled ship and detaining people in 1940. Andy Mabbett (Pigsonthewing); Talk to Andy; Andy's edits 18:17, 14 September 2021 (UTC)

The agreement with the Danish government-in-exile signed on 9 April 1941 established the right of the United States to establish the Greenland Patrol in the defense of Greenland. The U.S. Coast Guard was chosen to defend Greenland sovereignty because it had other business in the area, such as the International Ice Patrol. The IIP was covered under several countries treaties to protect the passage of shipping in the North Atlantic. If President Roosevelt had sent the U.S. Navy instead of the Coast Guard, that act might have provoked war immediately. The signing to the defense treaty with the Danish government is covered in the first paragraph of the section on World War II. Cuprum17 (talk) 19:22, 14 September 2021 (UTC)

Thank you. I read all of that section before posting here, but it does not make clear that that agreement gave the US the authority (or obligation?) to board ships or detain people. Andy Mabbett (Pigsonthewing); Talk to Andy; Andy's edits 15:58, 15 September 2021 (UTC)

@Pigsonthewing: Because the treaty with the Danish government-in-exile obligated the United States to defend Greenland and the landing of personnel on Greenland's shores or operating a ship in Greenland's territorial waters by German assets was seen as a potential threat, the boarding of German ships and detention of German personnel was seen as justified. While the United States was not on a war footing with Germany at the time, however, the attack by a German submarine (U-652) that occurred 4 September 1941 on USS Greer prompted President Roosevelt to issue a "shoot-on sight" order on 11 September 1941. On 12 September 1941, SS Busko, a Norwegian sealer under German direction was landing supplies on Greenland shores and was captured by USCGC Northland. Norway was under German control at the time, having been occupied by German forces since April 1940.Cuprum17 (talk) 17:09, 15 September 2021 (UTC)