IMPORTANT EVENT

Wairarapa Times-Age, 10 July 1941, Page 6

IMPORTANT EVENT

AMERICAN OCCUPATION I OF ICELAND DISCUSSED BY BRITISH PRIME MINISTER. | WAY OPENED TO EXTENDED I CO-OPERATION. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 10.25 a.m.) RUGBY, July 9. Replying in the House of Commons to a question relating to the position in Iceland, Mr Churchill said the military occupation of Iceland by United States forces was one of the most" important things that had happened since the war began. The step had been undertaken by the United States in pursuance of the purely American policy of protecting the Western Hemisphere from the Nazi menace. "I understand it is the view of American technical authorities, Mr Churchill continued, "that modern conditions of war, especially air war, require forestalling action, in this case especially, in order to prevent the acquisition by Hitler of a jumping off ground from which it would be possible, bound by bound, to come to close quarters with the American continent, ft is not for me to comment on these American moves, although I may say they are fairly obvious to anyone who takes sufficient interest to understand what is going on." Mr Churchill recalled, that, with the assent of the Icelandic people, Britain had for some time maintained a strong garrison on Iceland and he continued: "This measure of American policy, therefore, is in complete harmony with British interests, and we have found no reason to object to it at any time. I cannot see that wc should have had any grounds for taking any other attitude in view of the invitation extended to the United States by the Icelandic Government. Wc still propose to retain our army in Iceland, and as the British and United States forces will both have the same object in view, namely, the defence of Iceland, it seems' very likely that they will cooperate closely and effectively in resistance to any attempt of Hitler to gain a footing on Iceland. After stating that he found “no reason for regretting the steps which the United States has taken in the circumstances forced upon them,” Mr Churchill turned to what he understood to be the second principle which led the United States to the occupation of Iceland. This, he thought, he found in the declared will and purpose of the President, Congress and the people of the United States, not. only to send all possible aid in warlike munitions and supplies to Britain, but also to make sure that they arrived. ’“Here again is a course of action for which the United States must take full .responsibility," said Mr Churchill. "Apart from this, the position of the United States forces in Iceland will require to be sustained at sea from time to time. These consignments to the American forces on duty overseas for the purpose of the United States will have to traverse very dangerous waters, and, as we have a very large traffic passing through these waters, it may be found in practice mutually advantageous for the two navies involved to assist each other as far as convenient in that part of the waters. I do not think I need say anything further about that which appears at every point a matter which seems so very plain and simple.”