New-York tribune., 1918-08-28
Iceland First
A Ne1C Nation and q Per,uoaen.
Neutral
By John c.. Holme

TINE long standing dispute he.r.
Denmark and Iceland. which da.:
the last four years has threatensa .
times TO culminate in secession ., :. q
part of Iceland, thus breaking cb;a 'Is
the Scandinavian union of nations ;s ~
preaching apparently happy solution ~
The joint commission of Danish ana :.
landic statesmen which has been in so..,'
in Reykjavik, the capital of Iceland ~
summer, has made public its recomns.s s'
tions for new agreement between tbo ~
countries. This proposed conventio, Nv
virtually make dual monarchy of tbo .r
countries if it is adopted AS it seen,s
meet with general satisfaction in tba 49,.
OF both countries, and has the backjnc =,
the principal political parties, with thu ~ "
ception of the Conservative party in nss
mark, there is every reason for beljev;,.
that the convention viii go through.
The principal provisions of the conv.,
ton recommended by the joint comm;xs;..
follow:
Denmark is to recognize Iceland as ..
Independent sovereign state.
The King of Denmark is to be Kin, i,
Iceland.
Denmark is to represent Iceland in to,
eign affairs, but TO enter into no asreero,.
with other countries in Iceland's bebalf ~
cept with the full consent and know,oa..
of the lcelandic government
Iceland is to have the right to send :.
own representatives abroad to handle =.
own foreign affairs whenever exjeencis,
arise which in the opinion Of the Icela,ai,
government make such a move advisable
Denmark is to recognize the right ~ l..
land to fly its own flag over its vsss.,.
outside of territorial waters
Denmark is to notify all tie powers tb,,
no offensive or defensive military troa.r
exists between the two countries. so that =,
matter what fate may befall Denmark IN
this and future wars Iceland occupes
position of permanent neutrality - md.
no obligations to become party to Den.
marks dispute with other nations. or to h.
considered part of the Danish monarch
or a co-belligerent in Denmark's wars
Danish citizens in Iceland are to nav,
equal rights with Icelandic citizens. r..
iandic citizens ir Denmark are to occnov
corresponding position.
Should any dispute arise under the term,
of the new convention. Denmark and Ics.
land are to name two delegates each IN
settle the matter Should they fail to CON.
to agreement the King of Norway or Il,
klng of Sweden is to be asked to name
NTH member to make a decision.
This proposed convention is rather M,
IN one respect. It merely legalizes ststr,
between the two countries which Ices.,
has assumed during the last two or I'm.
years In other words, little Iceland ia
subject nation, has virtually said to i,
sovereign power: 81 have been assvnrr
certain rights of late not provided 70, IN
our present agreement. Now let US change
our agreement so as to make legal what
nave been doing, what | demand as nv
rlght IN the future" Thus far, tho Danish
government has shown itself model Of
broadmindedness and fairness in its att
tude toward the Saga Land.
The Althing, the parliament Of Tcolani
was In session about the tine the report Of
the Joint commission was made public, and
Immediately ratified the proposed agree.
ment. Constitutional provision REQUIRES
that second session Of the Althing shall
ratlty 1T. The convention then has to be
adopted by an Icelandic plebscite. It's
adoption by the Danish Rigsdag, which will
soon convene, will give full sanction to the
measure so far as Denmark is concerned.
1t IS expected that by December the
whole affair will be settled, and that one
more sovereign nation VIII have been added
to the world.