The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1907-09-13

came again separated, and in the treat
les and negotiations at that time, Iceland
seemed to have been forgotten and moth
ing definite was done about it and Ice
land remained with Denmark, and has
still remained in that condition to this
time.
During all the time Of this union there
hes been more or less friction between
the people of Iceland and the govern
ment of Denmark as to the status of the
Icelanders. The Icelanders have always
contended that they are an autonomous
country or nation. That they are not a
part or parcel of Denmark. They are
not Danes by ancestry or conquest, or by
agreement. The Althing or Icelandic
parliament has been kept up, though for
long periods it has had little to do, ow-
ing to the poverty and misfortunes of
the people, and all the local laws been
made by the local government.
But this question of the status of Ice
land has received new interest in the
last twenty-five years from several cir
cumstances, but largely from the i'm
proved conditions of the people as we'll
as from their more intimate connection
with the world at large. Emigration to
Canada and the United States has re-
lieved the pressure of population,
and letters home from these emigrants
have given them new and fresh ideas of
the progress of the world and the posi-
bilities of vastly improved conditions in
Iceland.
The natural resourcesof Iceland are
much greater than ever realized hereto
fore by it's own people. This is particu-
larly true of the fisheries, and this
knowledge has not only been appreciat-
ed by the present day Icelanders but
the Danes have also begun to realize
that Iceland is country of possible val
ue. Hence the old contentious which
were rather sentimental,are now coming
down to the valuable and concrete, and
consequently more acute.
The liberal party in Iceland, who are
the extremists, and perhaps in "a ma
jority claim that by history and tradi-
tion, Iceland is separate and independ-
ent nation, and have no connection with
Denmark except that the king of Den
mark is also the king of Iceland. They
demand that Iceland shall have q sepa-
rate flag, make all it's own home laws
with the consent of the king, and any
matters that shall be in common with
Denmark shall be settled by treaty as if
dealing with foreign nation.
/ The Danes on the contrary, argue that
Iceland is part of Denmark and that
Dane is citizen of Iceland, but are will
ling that Iceland shall have representa-
tion in the Danish parliament. This
latter the Icelandic people decline as it
would be of no value on account of
small representation and would only put
them in the position ofdependents.
At present Iceland has an Icelandic
governor who is appointed by the king
of Denmark and is governed by the Al
thing of thirty members, of whom four
in each house upper and lower) are nom
mated by the king.
A recent visit of the king of Denmark,
with his cabinet and other members of
the government, was notable event and
was made with view of the settlement
of these differences. The question of
the fisheries is vital. Other nations can
be excluded from the three-mile limit
from the shores of Iceland, bat if Dane
is also an Icelander he has the same
rights.
The recent moral acquiescence of Dem
mark to the separation of Norway and
|Sweden, which nations we're practically
on the same Autonomous terms, by allow
ing Danish prince to become king of
Norway makes pretty good precedent
for the Icelanders to work on.