859A.01/124: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in the United Kingdom (Winant)
4259. Following is a summary of Reykjavik’s 222, May 26, 9 p.m.14 to the Department:
The British and Soviet Ministers and the American Chargé d’Affaires have agreed to ask two separate appointments with the Foreign Minister for May 30 in order to express to him orally the felicitations of their governments on the results of the plebiscite and to assure him that the Republic of Iceland will be welcomed into the Family of Nations. They will also ascertain whether the Foreign Minister considers a further expression to be desirable such as a call on the Regent and delivery of a brief address of good wishes. The Chargé adds that similar action will probably not be taken by the representatives of Norway, Denmark and Sweden who appear to be drifting into a bloc which may withhold recognition.
We are telegraphing Reykjavik15 that we approve of the individual calls on the Foreign Minister but have added that, unless specifically suggested by the Foreign Minister, we think that it would be inadvisable to call on the Regent for the following reasons:
- (1)
- Such a step would not only accentuate the divergence in attitude between representatives in Reykjavik of the United States, the United Kingdom and the Soviet Union, on the one hand, and the Scandinavian States on the other, but also might supply fuel to the German propaganda contention that we and the British have been instrumental in bringing about the severance of the Act of Union.
- (2)
- It would tend to render somewhat anticlimactic the June 17 ceremonies at which the chiefs of the diplomatic missions to Iceland are to deliver formal addresses of welcome.
We are requesting the Chargé to bring these observations to the attention of his British and Soviet colleagues as well as to the Foreign [Page 990] Minister should he himself propose a call on the Regent. Should the British and Soviet Ministers insist on carrying out the original procedure, our Chargé may, in his discretion, associate himself with them.
Please inform the Foreign Office of the foregoing.