GERMANY'S LOSS

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 2, Issue 186, 15 July 1940, Page 2

GERMANY'S LOSS

-- ■ 5 ICELAND TRADES IN LONDON Two l'air-iiaired young Icelanders have established themselves as ail : unofficial embassy in a small Loi~h don offiice, near Buckingham Palace, and within a week of the Nazi invasion of Denmark they were at work fostering trade with Britain at the expense of Germany. The neAV "ambassador'* is Petur Beneditktsson, aged 33, and a descendant of the Vikings; he came to London to represent the diplomatic interests of Iceland at the Danish Legation, but Iceland is for the t!ime independent as Denmark is un able to exercise her King's prerogative over the island. The Danish Grown was the connecting link be--tween the two countries. "As. my country's representative on the Anglo-Icelandic Joint Standing Committee in England, my job is to encourage trade Avitli Britain," said Mr Benedilctsson. "Before the Avar, Germany Avas one of Iceland's most important customers, but the British blockade has cut Germany off completely from our supplies of fish products and frozen lamb. Britain is uoav increasing her purchases from us.'* As his charge d'affaires, Mr Benecliktsson has enlisted the services of a still younger Icelander—Mr Hilmcr Foss, nepheAV of the Presi-> dent of Iceland's combined Par'lia- 1 ment. Mr Foss happened to be in London completing his studies •when" Denmark Avas invaded and Iceland became independent for the present of the Danish Crown.