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Show Its Independence Lost in the shuffle of war news Is the declaration of independence by Iceland, renouncing its former allegiance to the King of Denmark. Den-mark. Iceland is known as the world's oldest surviving democracy. Its parliament antedates the British House of Commons by more than 200 years. By popular report, it has no jails, no army, no navy, no fortifications, and has never engaged en-gaged in a foreign conflict. Iceland was independent for but after a violent civil war became be-came subject to Norway. In 1280 many centuries, from 900 to 1262, it was transferred to Denmark but since 1874 the inhabitants have enjoyed their own constitution. constitu-tion. In 1939 the Germans wanted to establish an air base in Iceland, to link Germany and America. This request was rejected but when the Nazis went into Denmark Den-mark in April of 1940, the British immediately sent soldiers to protect pro-tect Iceland. A year later, with the permission of the Althing, the Parliament of Iceland, American troops of occupation arrived. |