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 Gets A
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.
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 con naval forces have already arrived in replied that this and other con-
in the 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.
Informed officially that the man concerned had not been dis- the had resigned, missed but 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 immediately ask Congress to agree to an ar- An indication that something off yesterday and the Con- in
allow this ex- to defence rangement
put up a notice at the gates stat- In a special Message to
In addition President | important was happening was
ing that there were vacancies for gress, announcing the arrival of frontier should remain in friendly change. the naval force, Pres dent Roose-hands is the very foundation of Roosevelt said that he was com- provided recently at the Boston turners and fitters. velt indicated that
from United States national security municating with the Governments the United States will eventuany, and of the national security of of all other Western Hemisphere Navy Yard, where, during one of
units
replace the British forces station- everyone. ed in Iceland,
The President said that the 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."
United States
PRESIDENT
President's Order
ROOSEVELT ADDED:-"AS COMMANDER-
1 HAVE CONSE IN-CHIEF, QUENTLY ISSUED ORDERS TO THE NAVY THAT ALL NECES
про SARY STEPS BE TAKEN
THE SAFETY OF ENSURE
THE IN
ICE-
The Prezident emphasised, however, that the United States did not desire any change of COMMUNICATIONS
APPROACHES BETWEEN sovereignty in those regions.
nations on the United States Gov- ernment's action.
the hottest spells of summer, several thousand marinos were issued with fur-gloves and other winter equipment,
This
learned morning it was that about 80 per cent, of the men who resigned had applied for
taken on again. jobs in the afternoon and were
It is the announced policy of the Government of the Hnited States, President Roosevell told Mr.
The announcement of the occu- Jonasson, "to undertake to join with other nations of the Western pation was made as soon as a
LARGE ORDERS Hemisphere in the defence of the flash message was received stat- been completed
The war continues new world against any attempting that it had
to bring and that U.S. Marines were tak- at aggression.
from British ing over
large orders for Indian industry. Lroops. Informed ources in Washington During the month of May orders placed Eight Conditions
feel that the action may have totalling £311,000 were
results and await in Bombay for items which in- LAND AND THE UNITED In the opinion of this Govern- ! far-reaching
chairs, STATES, AS WELL AS ON THE
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
The German
ALL occupation [ STATES AND
OTHER Iceland be preserved because of any has officially proclaimed to machine tools, signalling lamps Iceland, he said, would constitute STRATEGIC OUTPOSTS.
the fact that any occupation of be a battle zone. a seriou, threat in three dimen- This Government will stons,
too clearly apparent plans for threat against Green- the adequate defence of Iceland Iceland by the power whose only
in-world of with full recognition of the
conquest include the land and the northern part the American continent and the dependence of Iceland as a sover- domination of the peoples of the island lying off it, a threat against eign state.
new world, would at once directly all hipping in the Atlantic and
menace the security of the entire Western Hemisphere.
Triple Threat
In his message
ensure
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 u conversation on ly approved by Congress."
24," the British minister"
Nor
June
ment, it is
It is for that reason, in response
will
to your message, that the Govern- No indication is given of just explained to him that the British ment of the United States what forces have reached Iceland forces in Iceland were required send immediately troops to supple- of whether they will be supple-elsewhere. At the same time, it ment and eventually replace the mented by troops or marines. was stressed that the adequate British forces there."
im- did President Roosevelt defence of Iceland was of indicate whether similar action mense importance, and President might be taken against other pos- Roosevelt was prepared to sible stepping off points for Ger- United States troops immediately 1. The United States promises nian action against the Western to supplement and
the to withdraw military forces im- Hemisphere.
British troups.
Exchange Of Letters
replace
Mr. Jonasson's letter laid down
sendi the following conditions:
Mr. Jonasson said he was inmediately on the conclusion of the formed that President Roosevelt present war. did not consider he should take The Presidential Message was this course except at the invita-
2. The United States promises
to recognise the "absolute inde-
Reuter.
and foodstuffs.-Reuter.
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 Rac: velt and the Prime Minister been issued upon
eight nordi-
of Iceland dated July 1, and the tons. Mesiage was in line
Sufficient 'Planes
with the understanding reached in this exchange, that the United States Navy would go to Iceland.
The Iceland Government placed that the special stress on there The Message stated
being 'planes for assurance that "strategic outposts!"sufficient
defence
SUPPORT
the eventual peate 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 Government during the occupa- some time past.”
not to interfere with the Iceland
tion or afterwards.
4. The United States promises #49@1414339#93352430340359 to organise a defence so
HONG KONGS
BOMBER
FUND
SEND DONATIONS TO "WAR FUND”,
SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST, LTD.
£130,939.19.6 remitted to the Imperial Government to date
I
It was, the spokesman said, a logical ensure the greatest possible safe-development of the policy President Roose- 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.
8. It is obvious that if the United States undertakes any de- fence of Iceland, "It will be strong enough to meet every eventuality, and particularly in the beginning it is expected that as far as pos sible an effort will be made to prevent any special danger in connection with the change-over" Legal Status
pied; that policy being limitation of the intention of the United States to take every measure necessary to safeguard the western hemisphere.
The occupation means that Bri-
The British
Minister, Mr.
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. The spokesman added: "What both British and American troops has happened is that the Ameri in Iceland.
cans in continuation of their policy of hemispheric defence as The British Government, was announced by President Roosevelt, kept fully informed beforehand. at the time America took over the Iceland's sovereignty will remain protection of Greenland, has now complete and the evacuation by extended that principle and is the United States Forces will taking over, too, with the consent take place immediately on the of the authorities in Iceland, the conclusion of the war.
defence of Iceland.
There will be arrangements for compensation for any damage that may be done and there will be no interference with local af- fairs, while the economic interests
Secondary Virtue
The action was described as a
In correction with Condition 8, Iceland stressed the need for sufft cient 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 undertalco the for the conveyance of food and to the Democracies generally and defence. Mr. Jonasson said Ice- other necessitics between Iceland desire to attain world, domination, land reached her decision as "an and the United States. absolutely free sovereign State"
With Consent
It has a secondary virtue from the viewpoint of Great Britain in that it re.loves.us of a commitment in the western hemisphere at a time
and considered it a matter of course, that the United States Te- cognise the legal status of Iceland, There will also be an exchange when German aggression is im- with both states immediately “ex- of diplomatic representatives bo- posing increasing and fresh'obliga-. changing diplomatic representa-tween Iceland and the United tions on the British Government, tives. Reuter.
Iteuter."
States.
114