65° - 01.07.1968, Blaðsíða 26

depends how you look at it. Everything has its
price.”
In desperation he sought his wife. He had a
vague feeling that only one thing could save him
now. If they could look into each other’s eyes
this minute. If they could cast a glance at each
other across this room and all these people. But
her back was turned. She was busy pouring out
more sherry.
Translated by Petur Karhson
NATO Continued from page 15
World War I did not quite reach Iceland. The
declared military zone in the Atlantic went as
far as the Faroes. In spite of the serious blows
which some neutrals had suffered during the war,
neutrality was still the only refuge of many small
states. The League of Nations provided the hope
for a safer future.
When Denmark and Iceland agreed on the
Union Act of 1918, granting Iceland almost com-
plete independence, it was provided that Denmark
make it known that Iceland was thereafter an
independent and eternally neutral state.
Iceland was neutral for only 22 years. During
this period the submarine and the airplane were
technically improved year by year, and Iceland
came within their reach. Nazi Germany tried to
obtain bases in Iceland for its Lufthansa Airline,
but the Icelanders refused. Visits by squadrons
of airplanes, submarines and other warships be-
came numerous. Anyone with his eyes open could
see that Iceland would not remain outside the
war zone if a new conflict broke out.
In May 1940, the British occupied Iceland
primarily to deny it to the Germans who badly
needed Atlantic bases. Icelandic authorities pro-
tested this breach of the country’s neutrality, but
soon began to co-operate with the British in many
ways.
In July 1941, many months before Pearl Har-
bour, Iceland made an agreement with the United
States whereby it took over from the British the
defence of the island for the duration of the war.
By this act the Icelanders formally abandoned
the neutrality policy of 1918.
At the end of the war the Icelanders were again
faced with the question of their future security.
At that time everyone had great hopes about the
United Nations as an effective system of col-
lective security, an ideal solution for a small
nation.
The United States offered a somewhat different
alternative by asking for military bases for 99
years. Under American protection Iceland had
been relatively safe and had even prospered during
the war. But the American presence in the country
had been overwhelming and the social upheaval
it had caused was extensive. The Icelanders also
felt that permanent military bases granted to a
foreign power would be an infringement upon
their sovereignty, and they said no to the Ameri-
can request.
It was, however, impossible to ignore the new
strategic importance which technology had given
to Iceland. The airfields which had been con-
structed during the war could not be removed
and would soon serve civil aviation. The largest
one, Keflavik, was too big for Iceland to take
over and operate on its own. An agreement was
made with the Americans on civilian operation
of the base.
Ill
It soon became obvious that the United Nations
would not for a long time live up to expectations
as a world security system. The victorious powers
failed to agree on a settlement of the principal
European problems, and in the confusion of the
post war years Communist governments were
established in country after country in Central-
and Eastern Europe. NATO was formed to halt
this development and reestablish a balance of
power in Europe.
Iceland was invited to join this alliance with
her neighbours to the east and west. She was
strategically placed near the middle of the NATO
area on the lifeline by sea and air between Europe
and North America.
The Althing in March 1949 decided upon mem-
bership in NATO by a majority of 39 to 13,
harassed by rioting protesters outside. The Great
Debate never rose higher than during the weeks
before this decision was made.
Opposition to NATO membership was of two
kinds.
First, the Communists fought to keep Iceland
out of this new Western alliance. Never before or
since have they so openly appeared as fighters
for the Communist block of states, calling those
who favoured NATO traitors and quislings.
The Communists put forth as an alternative
that Iceland should ask the Soviet Union, Britain
and the United States to guarantee a neutral Ice-
land, and no state should be permitted military
bases in the country.
24
65 DEGREES