Saga - 1986, Blaðsíða 205

ÁFORM FRAKKA UM NÝLENDU VIÐ DÝRAFJÖRÐ 203
On the part of the Icelanders there was disagreement as to how to react to the
Ptench request. Some were of the opinion that a colonial settlement of this type
Would be beneficial as it would increase trade and bring capital into the country.
Others saw this as a threat and some even felt that in actuality the French wanted
complete control over Iceland and that this colony in Dýrafjörður was just the first
stcp towards complete French dominance. This opinion is clearly expressed in a
letter written in Reykjavík and published in the Danish paper Fædrelandet,
Oopcnhagcn 4th September 1856. Governor Trampe, magistrate (amtmaður) Páll
Melsteð and Jón Guðmundsson, the editor of Pjóðólfur, were all opposed to the
French colony. They all warn that should the French gain facilities for working
fish in large quantities in Iceland they could easily take over the Spanish market
which was then the most important export market for Icelandic fish and they saw
the loss of that market as leading to the collapse of Icelandic fishing. In Ný
Pélagsrit, Jón Sigurðsson's journal, the French proposal is viewed more favour-
ably. It appears that Jón Sigurðsson wanted to see whether the French government
could be induced to abolish or reduce import-tax on fish to France and its grants
to those who fished in Icelandic waters in return for facilities for working fish on
Icelandic shores.
Jón Guðmundsson, the editor of Þjóðólfur, had for many years been one of Jón
Sigurðsson's most ardent supporters in the struggle for independence from
Denmark. But on this point they differed greatly. ln a letter from Jón Guð-
mundsson to Jón Sigurðsson dated 18th August 1856 he claims to be unable to
understand „that we, at the same time as we claim to be working to cast off the
Hanish yoke to obtain freedom and independence in government and trade, should
be reaching out for a French yoke much heavier."
This essay follows the Dýrafjörður question to the autumn of 1856 when Prince
^apoleon was on his way to Copenhagen following his trip to Iceland. It was
w*dely believed that an agreement conceming Dýrafjörður was imminent. Further
developments will be discussed in another article to be published next year in Saga.
Translated by Matthew James Driscoll and Ragnheiður Mósesdóttir.