Figure 4-6. — The Republic of Iceland. 



ICELAND 



When Norway separated from Denmark in 1814, Iceland re- 

 mained under Denmark. In 1918, the Danish Government ac- 

 knowledged Iceland as a sovereign state, united with Denmark 

 only in that the Danish king was also king of Iceland. 



When Germany occupied Denmark, the Icelandic Parliament 

 (Althing) voted in May, 1941, to terminate the union with Den- 

 mark. A regent was elected to assume the functions of the King 

 and it was resolved that a republican constitution be adopted as 

 soon as the union ceases. In May of 1944, the people of Iceland 

 severed the last tenuous bond to Denmark by terminating the re- 

 gency. The Icelandic Parliament formally proclaimed Iceland 

 to be an independent republic, and the regent, Sveinn Bjoernsson, 

 was elected President of Iceland. 



Iceland claims no territory in the Arctic, 



FINLAND 



By the treaty of Dorpat, dated 14 October 1920, Finland was 

 given an Arctic frontier, but this is a very short one. In the 

 Finnish sector of the Arctic there is no land other than a small 

 part of Svalbard (Spitsbergen) belonging to Norway. 



152 



