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30806017
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Memorandum from George S. Springsteen to Lieutenant General Brent Scowcroft Regarding Icelandic Protest Regarding Leif Erikson Day Proclamation
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30806017
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document
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Memorandum from George S. Springsteen to Lieutenant General Brent Scowcroft Regarding Icelandic Protest Regarding Leif Erikson Day Proclamation
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White House Central Files Subject Files (Ford Administration)
White House Central Files Subject Files on Holidays
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1975-09-23
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1975
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6406
DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Washington, D.C. 20520
7518764
September 23, 1975
UNCLASSIFIED
MEMORANDUM FOR LIEUTENANT GENERAL BRENT SCOWCROFT
THE WHITE HOUSE
Subject: Icelandic Protest Regarding Leif Erikson
Day Proclamation
Iceland's Ambassador Haraldur Kroyer lodged a formal
protest with the Department on September 23 about the
characterization of Leif Erikson as "Norwegian" in this
year's Presidential Leif Erikson Proclamation. Iceland
has long claimed that Leif Erikson is an Icelander, and
the people of Iceland believe that the United States
acknowledged this claim as being valid in 1930 when the
Congress presented to the people of Iceland a statue of
the explorer which identifies him as an Icelander. Ambas-
sador Kroyer noted, however, that the Norwegians and the
Icelanders have developed a formula which allows both
nations to claim Erikson as a forebearer by using the
term "Norse" or "Viking" when referring to Erikson, rather
than ascribing him to either country.
The Ambassador pointed out that a similar problem
occurred in the proclamation of 1964 which had serious
repercussions in Iceland where Leif Erikson is very much
a matter of national pride to each individual Icelander.
The Ambassador noted that it was now too late to do
anything about the already-issued Presidential proclama-
tion for this year. He asked, however, that measures be
taken immediately to see to it that any proclamations being
made by state governments this year avoid the same error.
The Department assured the Ambassador that although it
could give no guarantees, it would do what was possible
to meet his request.
UNCLASSIFIED
UNCLASSIFIED
- 2 -
The Department will communicate the Ambassador's re-
quest on behalf of his Government to the concerned states
through its office of Liaison with the Governors. The
NSC may wish to note this problem for future reference
and to take whatever steps it sees fit to help meet the
Icelandic concerns.
Juty M. Silm
Pm/
George S. Springsteen
Executive Secretary
FRED LIBRASY STATE
UNCLASSIFIED