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APPENDIX D
SIGNIFICANT PERSONALITIES
BJORNSSON, SVEINN: President of Iceland.
Date of birth: 27 February 1881.
Education: Law degree from University of Iceland.
Career: Supreme Court Lawyer - 1907-20; Member of Althing 1914-16, and 1919-
20; Icelandic Minister to Denmark 1920-24, 1926-40; Regent of Iceland (elected)
1941-44.
Remarks: Elected for the Presidency by the Althing in 1944, Björnsson, unopposed
as a nominee for popular election, was named President by acclamation in July 1945
and was unopposed in 1946 for a succeeding 4-year term.
Experienced in international relations, he is regarded as a prudent and judicious
arbitrator. While considered the only nonpartisan political leader in the country,
he was opposed in his first election by all the Communist Althing members and a
few Conservative and Progressive members. There is no question of his popularity
with the people in whom he seems to inspire great confidence.
He speaks English, French, and German, in addition to the Scandinavian languages.
His attitude toward the US is very friendly. Björnsson visited the US in 1944 on the
invitation of President Roosevelt.
BENEDIKTSSON, BJARNI: Minister of Foreign Affairs and Minister of Justice.
Date of birth: 30 April 1908,
Education: University of Reykjavik, Law degree 1930; Graduate studies - Berlin
University 1930-32; Speaks English and German.
Political affiliation: Conservative Party.
Career: Conservative Party Committee Member 1936 to date; Mayor of Reykjavik -
1940-47; Member of Althing - 1942 to date; Delegate to UN General Assembly, 1946.
Remarks: Benediktsson is regarded as one of the most influential men in the
Conservative Party. He is described as an extremely capable young man, an astute
politician, and clear thinker. In his first years as Mayor he initiated a policy of
collaboration with the Communists, but he is said to have become fully alive to the
Communist danger. Immediately after the announcement of his appointment as
a delegate to the United Nations, he was attacked by the Reykjavik Communist press
as being an agent of the United States and therefore not trustworthy as an Icelandic
representative.
Since his appointment as Foreign Minister, Mr. Benediktsson, in speeches before
the Althing and in a series of newspaper articles, has castigated the activities of the
Communist Party. His efforts in this direction have been SO strong that a few of the
more cautious members of the Conservative Party are reported to have suggested that
he adopt a more circumspect tone lest his writings jeopardize any chances for Con-
D-1
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"ocrText": "APPENDIX D\nSIGNIFICANT PERSONALITIES\nBJORNSSON, SVEINN: President of Iceland.\nDate of birth: 27 February 1881.\nEducation: Law degree from University of Iceland.\nCareer: Supreme Court Lawyer - 1907-20; Member of Althing 1914-16, and 1919-\n20; Icelandic Minister to Denmark 1920-24, 1926-40; Regent of Iceland (elected)\n1941-44.\nRemarks: Elected for the Presidency by the Althing in 1944, Björnsson, unopposed\nas a nominee for popular election, was named President by acclamation in July 1945\nand was unopposed in 1946 for a succeeding 4-year term.\nExperienced in international relations, he is regarded as a prudent and judicious\narbitrator. While considered the only nonpartisan political leader in the country,\nhe was opposed in his first election by all the Communist Althing members and a\nfew Conservative and Progressive members. There is no question of his popularity\nwith the people in whom he seems to inspire great confidence.\nHe speaks English, French, and German, in addition to the Scandinavian languages.\nHis attitude toward the US is very friendly. Björnsson visited the US in 1944 on the\ninvitation of President Roosevelt.\nBENEDIKTSSON, BJARNI: Minister of Foreign Affairs and Minister of Justice.\nDate of birth: 30 April 1908,\nEducation: University of Reykjavik, Law degree 1930; Graduate studies - Berlin\nUniversity 1930-32; Speaks English and German.\nPolitical affiliation: Conservative Party.\nCareer: Conservative Party Committee Member 1936 to date; Mayor of Reykjavik -\n1940-47; Member of Althing - 1942 to date; Delegate to UN General Assembly, 1946.\nRemarks: Benediktsson is regarded as one of the most influential men in the\nConservative Party. He is described as an extremely capable young man, an astute\npolitician, and clear thinker. In his first years as Mayor he initiated a policy of\ncollaboration with the Communists, but he is said to have become fully alive to the\nCommunist danger. Immediately after the announcement of his appointment as\na delegate to the United Nations, he was attacked by the Reykjavik Communist press\nas being an agent of the United States and therefore not trustworthy as an Icelandic\nrepresentative.\nSince his appointment as Foreign Minister, Mr. Benediktsson, in speeches before\nthe Althing and in a series of newspaper articles, has castigated the activities of the\nCommunist Party. His efforts in this direction have been SO strong that a few of the\nmore cautious members of the Conservative Party are reported to have suggested that\nhe adopt a more circumspect tone lest his writings jeopardize any chances for Con-\nD-1"
}