Office of the Historian
No. 216

711.56340B/4–651: Telegram

The Minister in Iceland (Lawson) to the Secretary of State

top secret
Reykjavik, April 6, 1951—2 p.m.

187. Inform Mitchell, Defense. Barrett departing today carrying draft agreement as of April 51 which leaves no important and few points any kind unresolved. FonMin discussing draft with Cabinet and non-Communist party leaders over weekend hoping for final approval not later April 10. He informed me today2 his present intention is to present to Althing3 and thus make public the short [Page 501] basic Defense agreement of eight articles. Also believes he will make public annex III4 but not necessarily at same time. Mentioned possibility, but not now contemplated, of publishing at some remote date selected information from Annex IV5 as special agreement. Should be noted this preliminary thinking, but he desires keep published material to minimum. Will inform us of final decision at later date.

Lawson

  1. Article IV read that the number of troops “shall be subject to the approval of the Icelandic Government.” The identical wording was used in Article IV of the final Agreement.

    Article VII gave either government permission to terminate the agreement if, 6 months after a requested review by the NAT Council, they could not reach a mutual understanding. In the event of hostilities, however, the Icelandic facilities would be available for military purposes. Article VII in the final treaty was the same. (740.5/4–551)

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  2. Lawson transmitted a memorandum of his conversation with the Foreign Minister on April 6 to the Department as an enclosure to despatch 439 from Reykjavik, April 10. (740B.5/4–1051)↩

  3. In telegram 204 from Reykjavik, April 17, Lawson reported: “Foreign Minister informs me he seeking means avoid submittal agreement to Althing. His advisors feel Althing approval Iceland signing NAT sufficient authority sign this agreement. He still studying matter but now submitting draft to leading members three parties in addition to Cabinet to assure full support”. (740B.5/4–1751)

    A memorandum of conversation between members of the Departments of State and Defense on May 15, reported that the Foreign Minister did not submit the Agreement to the Althing. Lawson informed the group that the members of the Althing were individually polled and the non-Communist members unanimously supported the Agreement. (740B.5/5–1551)

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  4. Annex III concerned the “Status of United States Personnel and Property.” A copy of the draft agreement was attached to the draft treaty of April 5.↩
  5. Annex IV covered “Civil Air Operations,” and a copy of the draft was also attached to the draft treaty of April 5.↩