Population. – Here are the statistical data relating to the last two censuses.
As of December 31, 1946, the population was 132,750.
The capital, Reykjavik, has increased its population seven times over the past fifty years. No other inhabited center reaches 10,000 residents nor are 2/5 of the population considered urban.
Economy. – Fishing remains the country’s largest reserve; progress continued during the war, and the island now has one of the most modern and rational flotillas in Europe (381,500 tons of fish in 1943; in 1945 the product of the fishery was valued at around 5.3 million pounds). The industrial use of the hot springs of which the island is abundant is in promising development.
Commerce. – Iceland has a surplus of imports over exports in the post-war period, although limited to modest limits. The United States now ranks first among supplier countries, followed by Great Britain and Canada. Exports are mainly directed to Great Britain.
In 1946 the merchant navy had about fifty steamships (totaling 20,000 tons of tonnage), and 450 motor ships (23,000 tons).
Political order. – Since 1944 (see below: History) Iceland has been an independent republic. The new constitution establishes that the president, by popular election, remains in office for four years. The elective parliament (Althing) is composed of a maximum of 49 members. One third of the members of parliament constitute the upper house (Efri Deild); the rest, the Lower House (Nedhri Deild). The functions of the government are delegated to the responsible ministers.
Finances. – Public finances developed as follows:
The public debt as of December 31, 1945 amounted to 55 million crowns (of which 10 to foreign countries). The circulation of money increased from 15 million crowns in 1939 to 172 on 31 October 1948.
History. – In 1940, the deadline within which Iceland could denounce the federal treaty it had stipulated in 1918 with Denmark fell. However, the war events of April 1940 made the revision more urgent and put the Icelandic Althing in the need (April 10) to attribute to the government the exercise of real prerogatives and the conduct of foreign policy, not recognizing the fait accompli of the occupation. German mother country. A month later, following agreements with the London government, British troops landed on the island (10 May) making it a very important military center for the protection of the convoys routes of the North Atlantic. Large air bases were set up there (including that of Keflavik of particular importance) by the American troops especially, replaced in July 1941 the British ones in the occupation of Iceland. The accentuated strategic importance of the island and the forced detachment from the motherland ended up hastening the loosening of ties with the Copenhagen government. On May 17, 1941, the Icelandic government proclaimed the dissolution de facto of the union with Denmark and appointed a regent in the person of Svejm Bjoernsson, who later became the first president of the republic; finally, after a plebiscite held on May 20-22, 1944, the Icelandic Republic was proclaimed on June 17, 1944.
After the war, Iceland became, together with all the territories of the Arctic polar zone, the center of the Soviet-American rivalry. The prolonged occupation of Icelandic air bases by American troops, which at the end of 1947 still had technical personnel at the Keflavik airport, caused considerable discontent in Moscow, which hastened to conclude a particularly commercial treaty with the young republic. to this favorable one, according to which Icelandic products were purchased at a price 50% higher than the current ones; something that did not fail to cause new economic concessions on the American side. During the 1946 election campaign, heated anti-US propaganda was carried out by the Socialist Unity Party (Communists and Socialists); the elections, however, held on 30 June 1946, largely confirmed the result of the previous ones of 1942, giving, out of the 52 seats in parliament, 20 seats to the Independence Party, formed by conservatives and liberals, 13 to the Progressive Party, 9 to the Social Democrats and 10 to the ‘Socialist unity. As a result, a coalition cabinet was set up, chaired by J. Stefansson. The government, without following an attitude of quiescence towards the US, has so far tried, with good results, to maintain independence by participating in all meetings aimed at proclaiming the neutrality of the Scandinavian states. 13 to the Progressive Party, 9 to the Social Democrats and 10 to the Socialist Unity. As a result, a coalition cabinet was set up, chaired by J. Stefansson. The government, without following an attitude of quiescence towards the US, has so far tried, with good results, to maintain independence by participating in all meetings aimed at proclaiming the neutrality of the Scandinavian states. 13 to the Progressive Party, 9 to the Social Democrats and 10 to the Socialist Unity. As a result, a coalition cabinet was set up, chaired by J. Stefansson. The government, without following an attitude of quiescence towards the US, has so far tried, with good results, to maintain independence by participating in all meetings aimed at proclaiming the neutrality of the Scandinavian states.
