<sod>{{refimprove|date=July 2013}}<eod>
<sod>The Greenlanders were also aware of the heavy [[Little Norway|Norwegian presence]] in Canada. In the event that Canada attempted to occupy the colony, they were worried that [[Free Norwegian Forces]] would be stationed in the area. This was a cause for concern, as the Norwegians had been vying for control over part of the territory until the [[Permanent Court of International Justice]] awarded it to the Danes in 1933.<ref name= PCIJ>[http://www.icj-cij.org/pcij/serie_AB/AB_53/01_Groenland_Oriental_Arret.pdf ''Legal Status of Eastern Greenland''], PCIJ Series A/B No. 53 (1933)</ref>Instead, they requested the protection of the United States, whose [[United States Department of the Treasury|Treasury Department]] agreed to dispatch the U.S. Coast Guard vessels, {{USCGC|Comanche|WPG-76|6}} and {{USCGC|Campbell|WPG-32|6}} with supplies and a consular team to establish a provisional [[consulate]] at [[Nuuk|Godthaab]]. Accepting the protecting of the Americans, a third party, was seen as less of a threat to their sovereignty.<ref name= Zabecki628></ref>  ''Comanche'' arrived at [[Ivittuut|Ivigtut]] on 20 May, and Godthaab on 22 May, thereby establishing direct diplomatic relations with Greenland.<ref name=Walling6 /> Canada sent a consul and vice-consul to Godthaab two weeks later.<eod>