Foreign Relations of the United States: Diplomatic Papers, 1945, General: The United Nations, Volume I

500.CC/5–745: Telegram

The Acting Secretary of State to the Minister in Iceland (Dreyfus)

Washington, May 7, 1945—7 p.m.

75. In telephone conversations during the past few days the Minister of Iceland has urged upon officers of the Department the admission of Iceland to the San Francisco Conference on the grounds that several states have been admitted subsequent to the original March 1 deadline. Mr. Thors was informed that should his Government desire to present a formal request³⁶ it would, of course, be given consideration but that it seemed very doubtful that a favorable reply could be expected. It was pointed out to Mr. Thors that a declaration of war against one of the Axis powers is still a requisite for signature of the United Nations Declaration and that the Department had so far received no indication of a change in Icelandic opinion in this regard. Mr. Thors admitted that it was highly improbable that Iceland would declare war on Germany and in fact stated that in his opinion such a declaration at this late date would be ridiculous. He further stated that a declaration of war on Japan was quite out of the question.

It appears, however, that Mr. Thors has suggested to his brother, the Foreign Minister, that since the Ukraine and White Russia have been made members of the United Nations the Foreign Minister might try the experiment of writing a private letter to Secretary Stettinius asking for an application for membership in the United Nations on behalf of Iceland. Should the Foreign Minister request your views, you may advise him in the sense of the first paragraph of this telegram.

Grew

36. In a note of May 10 to the Acting Secretary of State (not printed), the Icelandic Minister expressed the desire of his Government to attend the San Francisco Conference, indicated that since the enemy in Europe had been completely defeated, there could be no longer any question of Iceland’s declaring war, and stressed the feeling of the Government and the people of Iceland “that they have made their contribution to the United Nations’ war effort by lending their country for important military bases and by sacrificing the lives of many hundreds of seamen engaged in transportation of food to Britain and the United States.” (500.CC/5–1045) The text of the note was telegraphed to San Francisco (telegram 75, May 7, 1945), but the Conference took no action on the Icelandic request. (500.CC/5–1145)