859A.00/116
Memorandum by the Acting Chief of the Division of European Affairs (Atherton) to the Secretary of State
Mr. Secretary: The Minister of Iceland25 tells us informally that his brother, the Prime Minister, has been under very heavy political [Page 21] attack as the result of his recent action in obtaining, in compliance with the suggestion of the United States Government, passage by the Icelandic Parliament of a resolution temporarily shelving the independence question. The Prime Minister is faced with general elections in about three weeks and fears that his political opponents may be able to make some headway with the electorate. The Prime Minister believes that his position would be strengthened if the United States would approve of his advancing at this time the proposal that the new Parliament to be elected at the forthcoming general elections pass a resolution declaring that Iceland will become a Republic in 1944. This would be after the normal expiry date of the Treaty of Union with Denmark, December 31, 1943. If this suggestion meets with your approval, the Icelandic Minister wishes to call upon you, make the proposal directly to you, and receive your reply for transmission to the Prime Minister.
The European Division can see no objection to the Prime Minister’s proposal, nor does Mr. Berle,26 who thinks that our line should be that we have no objection to the exercise by Iceland of any right which she has under her treaty with Denmark. Our objection to the immediate abrogation of the treaty was that it would have been a unilateral breach of the terms of the treaty while Iceland was under United States protection.
If you are prepared to give your approval to the Prime Minister’s proposal, I should be glad to arrange with your office for an appointment for the Icelandic Minister to see you. The matter is somewhat urgent from the Icelandic point of view.
I should add that after receiving your reply, the Icelandic Minister proposes to fly to Iceland to explain the American point of view directly to his brother, the Prime Minister.