Evening star., 1951-05-07
American Troop!
Land in Iceland
To Aid Defense
200 Reported Sent
After Request by
Island Regime
By the Associated Press

REYKJAV1K, Iceland, May T..
"A contingent of American troops
arrived by air today at Keflavik
airport. 80 miles from this capital,
for the announced purpose of
aiding Iceland's defense under the
North Atlantic alliance.
(The troops went into Ice
land under an agreement for
'the defense of Iceland" signed
by the United States and Ice
land Saturday and made public
by the State Department today.
About 200 men of Army, Navy
and Air Force units were re-
ported involved.)
The ARRIVAL of the troops appar-
emily was no surprise to the
people of this old island republic,
since it was generally known that
negotiations had been under way
for some time. Nevertheless, the
announcement of the arrival was
published in extra editions of
ReyKjavik's newspapers.
Democratic Parties Consulted.
The government statement
threw little light on the mission
.of the Americans. 1t said only
When Iceland joined the At
lantic Pact. it agreed that if war
broke out the Allies would have a
similar position in Iceland to that
they had during the last war. But
lit vas entirely up to Icelanders to
say when such a position would
be granted"
During World War II Iceland
was major assembly point for
conveys to Russia.
Members of Parliament's demo
cratic parties were consulted, the
government said, and it was agreed
that now was the time to ask fol
defense forces. This island, with
an area of 39.758 square miles ano
a population of only 100000. has
no army, navy, coast guard OF
air force of its own.
Reds Not Consulted.
Of the So members of Parlia
ment. 43 supported the govern
ment in its request. The nine
Communist members were moi
consulted.
/ Under Iceland's agreement as 6
member of the Atlantic alliance
Keflavik Airport will be used fol
this country's defense. but Icelane
retains operation of fields fol
civilian purposes. The number o1
troops sent here must be approved
by the Icelandic government
Nothing in the agreement is tt
be construed as impairing the au.
thority of Iceland with regard tx
her internal affairs.
The Government statement sale
the United States showed under.
standing of Iceland's views anC
expressed confidence in the con.
tinued good will. of the United
States toward Iceland's independ
ence and prosperity.
| The United States-Iceland agree
ment grew out of a request of the
North Atlantic Treaty Organiza.
ton that the two countries make
arrangements under which armed
forces of the North Atlantic
Treaty nations may make use oi
facilities in Iceland in the COM
mon defense of the treaty area.
Iceland is the second North At.
lantic island for which the United
States has assumed defense re-
sponsibilities. An agreement fol
the mutual defense of Greenland
was negotiated with Denmark
only a few days ago.
The State Department said &
contingent of United States
security forces" is in Iceland "at
the request of the Icelandic Gov.
eminent and in accordance with
agreed defense plans" of the
NATO.
Defense officials told newsmer
the overall command of Iceland.
defenses falls under Admiral Viii.
liam Fechteler as commander il
chief of the Atlantic Fleet ane
chairman of the North Atlantic
Ocean Regional Planning Group
of NATO.
The initial detachment is un.
(See ISELAND, Page A-5.)
+ "A RkA IN EF