840.20/1–1249: Telegram
The Minister in Iceland (Butrick) to the Acting Secretary of State
14. Foreign Minister1 discussed with me on personal basis subject my 13 January 12.2 Great question confronting those favorable to pact is obtain greatest possible degree security Iceland in face of reluctance, almost abhorrence, Icelanders foreign troops Iceland peacetime. This greater problem for Iceland than for other countries with military history and personnel. He thought it might be good to have an American and a Britisher conversant with thinking of countries who have thus far participated in preliminaries to treaty come to Iceland to discuss matter with political leaders or chosen Icelanders proceed Washington quietly as possible for same purpose. He feels proposition must be as specific as possible to place government in favorable position to approve adherence. He felt it advantageous to Iceland to be original signer, but also felt it highly desirable that sufficient time be allowed for consideration all angles. He restated necessity that Norway and Denmark join to make pact politically palatable here.
As has been reported our weekly editorial reports Communists and Communist press are strenuously attacking proposed pact. My 10 January 11,3 I shall inform British Minister substance my 13 January 12 tomorrow.
- Bjarni Benediktsson.↩
- In telegram 13, 7 p. m., Butrick stated that the Foreign Minister had just informed him that Iceland’s position respecting the North Atlantic Treaty could not be determined until questions of increased security and obligations had been discussed with representatives of other participating countries (840.20/1–1249).↩
- Not printed.↩