The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1941-07-12

as InuCn as Ice
land did. Even Iceland, for that
matter, was no unexpected jolt to
Senator Burton X. Wheeler. Sew
eral days before President Roose-
welt announced his action as COM
mander in chief Of the United
States navy, Burt had told his fell
low solons he'd had a confidential
tip that some such development
was coming. They generally
thought, however, that his violent
isolationism made him subject to
that kind Of Authorizations, and
paid little attention to him. 1t
seems his sources Of information
are more reliable than they sup
posed 'em to be.
incidentally, the British newspa-
pers are bowling that the senator
never ought TO have given out the
item in advance Of the presidential
announcement and Prime Minister
Churchill said as much in a note to
President Roosevelt; it might. have
served as a warning to Herr Hit
Ie.. perhaps making 1t a lot more
difficult to put the plan into execu-
ton. But what Burt Wheeler cares
for the British press criticism OF
him would be nothing TO write
home about.
A Yankee occupation, Of the
Azores and Cape Verdes certainly
would precipitate a worse screen
than the Iceland one.
Iceland was perfectly willing to
be Americanly occupied and pro-
tected. Indeed, its prime minister.
Hermann Jonasson, virtually invit-
ed it, upon certain conditions, which
President Roosevelt agreed to.
Iceland Different
Denmark may object, or pretend
to do so, under pressure from Ber'
lin, but Denmark isn't entitled tc
speak for Iceland. The Icelander'
aren't Danish subjects. They're in
dependent. Greenland's different
That's a Danish possession.
When, the Germans having over
run Denmark, State Secretary Hull
arranged with Henrik de Kauff-
man, Danish minister In WASH
ington, for an American protec-
torate over the Greenlanders. the
Copenhagen government repudiat-
ed doubtless at Herr Hitler's die
Ia .ion) the bargain its Washington
representative had entered into.
True, we entirely disregarded this
reputation, went right ahead and
proceeded to protect Greenland.
Still, technically Greenland is Den
marks. Iceland isn't. 1t and Dem
mark are ,wo distinct countries.
II happens that the same individ-
ual is king Of 10Th of 'em, but
they're separate kingships. In his
Icelandic kingly capacity, this
chaps a mere figurehead. The To-
cal boss is Prime Minister Jonas
son. What he says for Iceland
goes, legally.
The Azores and Cape Verde is
lands are like observation-disclosures
out possessions of a home country.
In their case it's Portugal.
In the present world situation,
with two or three lawless dictators
grabbing everything they can get
their claws on, / don't question
that weak little country like Por-
tugal would be glad TO have a big,
strong, friendly power protecting
its islands. But, same as Den
mark, 1t simply would have TO
,screech its head off, under the die
tators' orders, in opposition to
anything Of the sort.
British Invasion:
There are hints of a British in
vasion Of the Axis-ized European
continent. But how get into 1t
handily? How about a landing on
the Portuguese waterfront? The
Portuguese, scared to death Of
Spanish Dictator Franco, should
be delighted to receive it. Then a
thrust into Spain, from Portugal?
1t would be a mean job II Spain re-
sisted 1t unitedly. But about half