859A.00/96: Telegram
The Chargé in Iceland (Warner) to the Secretary of State
[Received 8:24 p.m.]
409. The Legation’s 338 [398], August 1, 2 p.m.16 The Prime Minister has just handed me a memorandum setting forth his Government’s views on the severance of the Union between Iceland and Denmark, the text of which is transmitted in the Legation’s telegram No. 410, August 8, 3 p.m.17 He emphasized again that Iceland does not wish to do anything harmful to the United States and frankly stated that Prime Minister Churchill had previously made a similar suggestion through the late British Minister. Because of the alleged insecurity of his codes he is instructing the Icelandic Minister at Washington to obtain from the Department a copy of “an important message” namely the memorandum. In the connection please see 7 thereof. He hopes that a reply may be received promptly because the new Parliament has convened for only a short period.