ICELAND AND THE FAROES.

Shannon News, 31 August 1928, Page 4

ICELAND AND THE FAROES.

ASK FREEDOM FROM DENMARK.

The process of disintegration, it would seem, is assuming more definite shape both in Iceland and the Faroe Islands, as regards their relations or connections with Denmark, and r the latter country has some cause for remembering tthe old adage about ingratitude being* the wages of the world.

The position is/ politically, different as far as the two island realms are concerned, but in both there is.thessame cry: Loose from Denmark, if not completely, at least nearly. Iceland, by virtue of the Act of Union which came into force on January 1, 1918, became, a free state, a kingdom, with the King of Denmark for its sovereign. This act, in the rst instance, operates for 25 years after te expiration of which the Icelanders, so to speak, can give the ICing notice, and that is what theSocial Democrats think should bo done. Denmark, accord jug to the act, attends to Iceland's foreign affairs!, and Denmark-also undertakes the fishery inspection until Iceland decides to do this herself. There is a Danish-Ice-land committee to deal with legislative matters and possible alterations in the Act of Union, and there is also an agreement about an arbitration committee.

The position of the Faroe Islands is entirely different, inasmuch as they form part "* the Kingdom of Denmark and have representation in the Danish Rigsdag. There has of late years been lively agitation going on, clamouring for a separation from Denmark,* more or less complete, but hitherto the Separationists have been in, the. minority in the Lagting, but the last election gave them a small majority, when counting upon "iho support of the Social Democrats. , >'

The Sambands Party, which is loyal to Denmark, and wishes to continue the present state of affairs, is still the largest part} r , in the electorate. The programme of the separationists demands legislative power for the Lagting; the, Home Parliament, complete finanial home rule, and a payment of some 25,000,000 to 30,000,000 dollars from the Danish Exchequer, which it is claimed is due to the Faroe Islands from the time of the Royal Trading company which formerly possessed a monopoly over the trade of the islands.