859A.01/169a
The Acting Secretary of State to Diplomatic Representatives in the Other American Republics, Except Argentina and Bolivia
Sirs: The people of Iceland in a plebiscite held on May 20–23, 1944, voted overwhelmingly in favor of a Resolution passed by the Althing on February 25, 1944, to abrogate the Act of Union between Iceland and Denmark of December 1, 1918, and the Constitutional Bill passed by the Althing on March 8, 1944, providing for the establishment of a republican form of government. In taking this action, Iceland, so far as circumstances have permitted, has carefully observed the provisions of the Act of Union relating to its abrogation.
Both the United States and British Governments consider that the change in form of the Government of Iceland in no way affects the recognition they have previously extended to that country, and they propose to accredit their Ministers at Reykjavik to the first President of the Republic of Iceland who will be elected by the Althing on June 17, 1944, the date on which the Republic will formally come into being.
In connection with the recognition of Iceland, the following commitments made by the Government of the United States are contained in paragraph two of the Agreement between the United States of America and Iceland for the Defense of Iceland by the United States Forces, effected July 1, 1941:
“The United States further promise to recognize the absolute independence and sovereignty of Iceland and to exercise their best efforts with those powers which will negotiate a peace treaty at the conclusion [Page 992] of the present war in order that such treaty shall likewise recognize the absolute independence and sovereignty of Iceland.”
The President has designated the Honorable Louis G. Dreyfus, Jr., the American Minister to Iceland, as his Special Representative with the personal rank of Ambassador to attend the ceremonies to be held in Iceland on June 17 in honor of the establishment of the Republic.
Since Iceland may itself notify the Government of the other American republics of the change in its status, you are requested orally to inform the appropriate authorities of the Government to which you are accredited regarding the attitude adopted by this Government with respect to the establishment of the Republic of Iceland. In your discretion, you may add that although Iceland has given no indication that it desires to be classified as an American republic, preferring to consider itself as lying outside both the European and American Hemispheres, it is felt that the Government of Iceland would be gratified to receive on the day of the establishment of the Republic messages from the other American republics welcoming the Republic of Iceland into the family of nations.
Very truly yours,