Le Nord : revue internationale des Pays de Nord - 01.06.1938, Page 88
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LE NORD
diplomatic relations between Denmark and Iceland. On this head
section 15 provides that each of the two States shall determine
for itself in what manner its interests, and those of its subjects,
are to be looked after in the other country. Danish interests in
Iceland are in actual fact looked after by a Danish minister pleni-
potentiary in the capital of Iceland, and Icelandic interests in
Denmark by an Icelandic minister plenipotentiary in that of Den-
mark.
As mentioned above, the agreement contained in the Act of
Union is subject to denunciation, like other treaties between States.
The provisions as to termination are, however, of a special kind.
Section 18 lays down that at the end of 1940 the parliament of
either of the two States may demand the opening of negotiations
with a view to the revision of the Act. If such negotiations should
not lead to the renewal of the agreement in some form within
three years from the date of the presentation of the demand for
revision, either of the two parliaments may resolve »that the
agreement contained in this Act shall be terminated«. To become
effective, such a resolution must obtain a prescribed majority in
the parliament in question and at a referendum subsequently to
be held in the country in question.
This provision makes the agreement terminable by the uni-
lateral action of one of the parties, though not before 1944. But
on the other hand it also envisages a revision which may be fol-
lowed by a new agreement. It has attracted some attention in cer-
tain circles that spokesmen of the various political parties in Ice-
land have declared that a demand for revision will be put for-
ward, pursuant to the above-mentioned provisions, after the end
of 1940. Apart from the fact that certain provisions of the agree-
ment have already been modified under powers contained in the
agreement itself, and that the agreement must be altered to em-
body these amendments, it is too early yet to say whether a new
agreement can be arrived at, what provisions such a new agree-
ment might contain, or whether the present agreement will be
denounced, either by Denmark or Iceland. Prophecies on this
head are beyond the scope of this paper. It may be pointed out,
however, that here again, as regards the right to demand a revision
and the right to denounce the agreement, both countries are on an
equal footing.