Page**
THE CHINA MAIL, JULY 8, 1941.
U.S. TO TAKE OVER ICELAND
Arrival Of Naval Forces In Island Announced British Garrison America TAIKOO To Be Replaced
THE DECISION OF THE UNITED STATES TO TAKE OVER CONTROL OF ICELAND AND TO RELEASE THE BRITISH AND CANADIAN FORCES THERE FOR SERVICE ELSEWHERE WAS OFFICIALLY REVEALED IN WASHINGTON YESTERDAY.
Gets A Surprise
TURNERS
Between 250 and 300 turners and fitters at Taikoo Docks resigned and demanded to be paid off over the week-end as Announcement of the
a protest against the landing of United States alleged dismissal of one of forces in Iceland came as their fellow-workers. The announcement disclosed that Ameri-|
purposes." President Roosevelt a great surprise to the can naval forces have already arrived in replied that this and other con-
ditions were "fully acceptable" to general public Iceland. For the moment, they will supple- the United States and that they
United States. ment the British forces. Gradually, they will would be observed. replace them.
defence
to
ex-
An
the
Informed officially that the in the man concerned had not been dis-
missed but had resigned, men persisted that he had been dismissed and requested to be An exchange of diplomatic re- presentatives is contemplated and
This was not shared by well-allowed to resign, President Roosevelt said he would informed circles in Washington. The management paid the men ask Congress to agree to an ar-
immediately indication that something off yesterday and Con- in the United In a special Message to
rangement States
allow this
put up a notice at the gates stat- In addition President important was happening was gress, announcing the arrival of frontier should remain in friendly change.
turners and Atters. the naval force. Pres dent Roose-hands is the very foundation of Roosevelt said that he was com- provided recently at the Boston ing that there were vacancies, for velt indicated that units from United States national security municating with the Governments
This morning it was learned the United States will eventuany and of the national security of of all other Western Hemisphere Navy Yard, where, during one of
hottest spells of summer, that about 80 per cent, of the men nations on the United States Gov- the
several thousand marines were who resigned had applied ernment's action.
issued with fur-gloves and other jobs in the afternoon and were
taken on again. winter equipment,
The announcement of the occu- soon as a
replace the British forces station-everyone. ed in Iceland.
The President said that the President's Order United States could not permit "the occupation by Germany of strategic outposts in the Atlantic, to be used as a'r or naval bases
for an eventual attack against the Western Hemisphere."
The President emphasised, however, that the United States did not desire any change Bovereignty in those regions.
Triple Threat
PRESIDENT
HAVE
for
It is the announced policy of the Government of the United States, ROOSEVELT President Roosevelt fold Mr. ADDED "AS COMMANDER Jonasson, "to undertake to join IN-CHIEF.
CONSE with other nations of the Western pation was made as
LARGE ORDERS QUENTLY ISSUED ORDERS TO Hemisphere in the defence of the flash message was received stat- been completed THE NAVY THAT ALL NECES-
new world against any attempting that it had
continues The war
to bring and that U.S. Marines were tak- TO SARY STEPS BE TAKEN
at aggression,
from ing over
British troops. large orders for Indian industry. THE SAFETY OF ENSURE
IN THE
Informed sources in Washington During the month of May orders placed feel that the action may have totalling £311,000 were
results and await in Bombay for items which in- In the opinion of this Govern- far-reaching STATES, AS WELL AS ON THE ment, it is imperative that the the German reaction to American cluded textiles, ammunition boxes, SEAS BETWEEN THE UNITED integrity and Independence of action within an area which Ger- aeroplane hangars, .camp STATES AND ALL OTHER Iceland be preserved because of many has officially proclaimed to machine tools, signalling lamps STRATEGIC OUTPOSTS.
the fact that any occupation of be a battle zone. This Government will ensury Iceland by the power whose only the adequate defence of Iceland too clearly apparent plans
in- of with full recognition of the
world cunquest include
of COMMUNICATIONS
APPROACHES
BETWEEN ICE- LAND AND THE UNITED
Eight Conditions
for
The German occupation O Iceland, he said, would constitute a serious threal in three dimen- sions. "a threat against Green- land and the northern part the American continent and the dependence of Iceland as a sover-domination of the peopics of the island lying off it, a threat against eign state. all hipping in the Atlantic and
In his message to President a threat against the steady flow Roosevelt, the Prime Minister of of munitions to Britain, which Iceland, Mr. Hermann Jonasson, is a matter of broad policy clear-stated that in a conversation on ly approved by Congress."
No indication is given of just what forces have reached Iceland or whether they will be supple- mented by troops or marines,
Nor did President Roosevelt indicate whether similar action might be taken against other pos- sible stepping off points for Ger- man action against the Western Hemisphere.
Exchange Of Letters
the
new world, would at once directly menace the security of the entire Western Hemisphere.
will
It is for that reason, in response June 24," the British minister to your message, that the Govern- explained to him that the Briush ment of the United States forces in Iceland were required send immediately troops to supple- elsewhere. At the same time, it ment and eventually replace the was stressed that the adequate British forces there." defence of Iceland was of un- Mr. Jonasson's letter laid down mense importance, and President,
the following conditions: Roosevelt was prepared to send United States troops immediately to supplement and replace British troops.
the
Mr. Jonasson said he was in- formed that President Roosevelt did not consider he should take
1. The United States promises to withdraw military forces im- mediately on the conclusion of the prosent war.
2. The United States promises The Presidential Message was this course except at the invitato recognise the "absolute Inde-
Reuter.
and foodstuffs.--Reuter.
chairs,
BIG AND WELCOME
NEWS TO GREAT BRITAIN
THE ARRIVAL OF United States Forces
accompanied by the texts of tion of the Iceland Government. pendence and sovereignty of Ice- in Iceland was described last night by a Bri- letters exchanged between Mr. This invitation had accordingly land" and to use its influence at Roosevelt and the Prime Minister been issued upon eight condi- of Iceland dated July 1, and the tions. Message was in line with the
understanding reached in this Sufficient 'Planes exchange, that the United States Navy would go to Iceland.
The Iceland Government placed
The Message stated that the special stress On there being
'planes for assurance that "strategic outposts"*sufficient
·
defence
the eventual peace treaty that it tish Foreign Office spokesman as "big and will extend the same recognition. welcome news and one of the most important 3. The United States promises and significant events that has occurred for not to interfere with the Iceland Government during the occupa- some time past.”
tion or afterwards.
4. The United States promises
It was, the spokesman said, a logical ZANGOTETTATCCAÐISLIÐNTATIETBILLETTER FILLETAN) to organise a defence so as to development of the policy President Roose-
SUPPORT
TONG CONG S
BOMBER
FUND
SEND DONATIONS TO “WAR FUND",
SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST, LTD.
£130,939.19.6 remitted to the
Imperial Government to datotek
ensure the greatest possible safe-
ty for the inhabitants with only velt announced when Greenland was occu-
"picked troops.”
5. The United States under-
takes the defence of Iceland with
out any expense for Iceland.
6. The United States promises
to further Iceland's interests in every possible way, including sup- plying "necessities" and securing the necessary shipping,
7. Iceland expects any declar ation by the President to be in agreement with these promises.
pied; that policy being limitation of the intention of the United States to take every measure necessary to safeguard the western hemisphere.
Minister, Mr.
The occupation means that Bri-j The British tish troops will be relieved of Charles Howard Smith, who went the commitment of the defence of to Iceland, when we took over its Iceland and will be gradually, by protection will remain there.- stages, withdrawn from Iceland For the time being there will be both British and American troops in Iceland.
"What The spokesman added: has happened is that the Ameri 8. It is obvious that if the
cans in continuation of their United States undertakes any de-
policy of hemispheric defence as fence of Iceland. "It will be strong The British Government was announced by President Roosevelt, enough to meet every eventuality, kept fully informed beforchand, at the time. America took over the and particularly in the beginning Iceland's sovereignty will remain protection of Greenland, has now it is expected that as far as pos- complete and the evacuation: by extended that principle, and is sible an effort will be made to the United States Forces will taking over, too, with the consent prevent any special danger in take place immediately on the of the authorities in Iceland, the connection with the change-over."
N
Legal Status
conclusion of the war.
defence of Iceland,
Secondary Virtue
There will be arrangements for compensation, for any damage that may be done and there will In connection with Condition 8, be no interference with local, af- Iceland stressed the need for suffi fairs, while the economic interests. The action was described as a clent 'planes and said they could of Iceland will be safeguarded practical manifestation of Ameri be used as soon as the United and measures taken for transport can realisation of the Nazi threat. States decided to undertake the for the conveyance, of food and to the Democracies generally and defonce. Mr. Jonasson said Ice- other necessities between Iceland desire to attain world domination: land reached her decision as “an and the United States, absolutely free sovereign State" and considered it a matter course that, the. United States rer cognise the legal status of Iceland, with both states immediately ex- changing diplomatic representa
of
With Consent
It has a secondary virtue from the viewpoint of Great Britain in that it releves us of a commitment in' the western hemisphere at a time There will also be an exchange when German aggression is im- of diplomatic representatives be- posing increasing and fresh obliga- tween Iceland and the United tons on the British Government. Statga
Reuter