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E 768 Ll34 Glass £ 7C>>^ Book. il MADE PUBLIC JANUARY 23, 1917. 64th Congress, 1 SENATE—IN EXECUTIVE J Report on 1st session. SESSION. Ex. D, 64-1 :^ CESSION OF THE DANISH WEST INDIES. September 5, 1916.—Submitted and ordered to be printed in confidence for the use of the Senate. September 7, 1916.—Ratification of convention advised. January 23, 1917.—-Injunction of secrecy removed from convention and report. ft.;- .V,. ^_.. ... Mr. Stone, from the Committee on Foreign Relations, submitted the following REPOKl. [To accompany Executive D, 64-1.] The Committee on Foreign Relations, which has had under con- sideration a convention (Executive D) between the United States and Denmark respectmg the cession of the Danish West Indian Islands to the United States, signed at New York August 4, 1916, report the said convention to the Senate with the recommendation that the Senate advise and consent to its ratification, subject to the provisos set forth in the resolution of ratification hereto attached. The convention provides for the cession to the United States by Denmark of the Danish West Indies, consisting of the islands of St. Thomas, St. John, and St. Croix (or Santa Cruz). The islands of St. Thomas and St. John are a part of the Virgin Islands, so named by Christopher Columbus. This chain of islands, as stated by Reclus, forms a prolongation of Porto Rico, but bends somewhat to the northeast before joining the Lesser Antilles. The island of St. Thomas lies about .36 miles east of Porto Rico, St. John being immediately east of St. Thomas. St. Croix is situated about 40 miles south of St. Thomas in the Caribbean Sea. ST. THOMAS. St. Thomas, notwithstanding its small size, is the most important of the Danish West Indies, not only because it is an important coaling station and depot of trade with the West Indies, but because of its excellent harbor, hereafter referred to. St. Thomas is 12 miles long east and west, and from 1 to 3 miles broad. Practically all of the inhabitants live in the town called Charlotte Amalie, situated midway of the island on the south side. The only article of export is a small quantity of bay rum. 2 h. '1 (s>2 CESSION OF THE DANISH WEST INDIES. ' ^^ •^ 7" THE HARBOR. St, Thomas has a small interior harbor, completely sheltered, which will accommodate many vessels. Outside the harbor, on the open coast, and in a roadstead partly sheltered by an outlying island, is a good anchorage for a great number of ships, and this anchorage is, during almost the whole year, sufhcientl}^ smooth to admit of ships ATLANTIC OCEAN San Juan <:^.Th.n^< ^ ^ ^ Porfo \ "^ ^ki.. ^ ^ ^^rsb Island O ^ 5t Croix CARIBBEAN SEA ^ ^ CO ^ ^ I? SOUTH AMERICA O coaling and taking in stores. The harbor is near the middle of the south shore of the island, and its entrance at the narrowest part is H cables (900 feet) wide, from whence it spreads out on either side to a basin a])out three-quarters of a mile in diameter, and, being open to the southward, is at all times free of ingress and egress with the pre- vailing trade wind, ST, JOHN, Tliis island is 8 miles long east and west and of irregular breadth. Its area is about 40 square miles, and it contains 915 inhabitants. It occupies an excellent position near St, Thomas, and its port of Coral Bay on the east side is said to be the best harbor of refuge in the Antilles during cyclones, ST. CROIX. St, Croix, so named by Columbus, is situated 40 miles south of St. Thomas, and 65 miles from Porto Ilico, It is the largest of the Danish West Indies, and its capital. It is 19 miles loni;, of irresrular breadth, D. of D. FEB 8 1917 I CESSION OF THE DANISH WEST INDIES. 3 ^nd contains 51,890 acres, of which over 16,000 acres are devoted to !^the cultivation of sugar. Christiansted, commonly called the Basin, j?is the capital city, and is situated at the head of an inlet on the north side. Frederikstead, the second largest town on the island, is situated on the west coast, and both towns are connected with the surround- ing villages by good roads. There is a small harbor at Frederik- stead, and a larger one at Christiansted, not capable, however, of receiving many vessels. Tlie Danish West India Islands are inhabited mostly by free negroes engaged in the cultivation of sugar cane. TRADE WITH THE UNITED STATES. During the year 1915 the Danish West Indies exported to the United States merchandise to the amount of $350,822, of which S3 11,002 was in sugar. During the same year the United States exported to the Danish West Indies articles to the amount of $703,354. The following table gives these imports and exports in detail for the 3-ears 1914 and 1915: Quantities. 1914 1915 Values. 1914 1915 WEST INDIES—DANISH. Imports from. Articles, the growth, produce, or manufacture of the United States, returned , Hides end skins (except fur skins), raw or uncured: Goat , dry lbs . , All other lbs.. Spirits, wines, malt liquors, and other beverages: Spirits, distilled pf. galls. All other Sugar—Cane lbs . , Wood , immanufactured—Cabinet woods All other articles 9,054 17,146 14,665 j 27,996 7,818 ! 3,034 I ' _ ""446'7,'ii9,'874" $14, 499 2,680 2,231 5,452 10 '4,562" Total imports . Domestic exports: Exports to. Breadstutis Bread and biscliit lbs. Corn bush. Corn meal bbls. Wheat flour bbls. All other Cars, carriages, other vehicles, and parts of Chemicals, drugs, dyes, and medicines Coal—Bituminous tons. Cotton, manufactures of Cloths- Colored yds. Allotlier yds. Wearins; apparel All other Fish- Dried, smoked, or cured lbs. All other Fruits and nuts Iron and steel and manufactures of— Machinery, machines, and parts of Mining machmery Pumps, and pumping machinery All other All other manufactures of iron and steel Leather and tanned skins, and manufactures of Leather and tanned skins So, 016 5,199 15, 369 21, 472 29,374 100, 184 5,851 14, 754 21, 070 90, 105 182, 752 41,761 37, 7S 107, 913 28, 422 4,887 4,513 54, 772 91,347 6,994 6,711 10, 095 259, 293 199,816 158,120 12,056 3,996 11,849 4,920 8,291 3,710 5,442 19 749 9,113 23, 105 5,112 $13, 426 5,358 4,939 1,880 200 311,002 7,012 7,005 350, 822 6,181 5,379 56, 993 116,632 11,176 4,170 10, 621 117,631 7,647 2,931 6,722 3,340 7,797 4,176 4,605 24,045 5,562 3,510 16,471 4,490 CESSION OF THE DANISH WEST INDIES. WEST INDIES—DANISH—continued. Exports io—Continued. Domestic exports—Continued. Leather and tanned skins, and manufactures of—Contd. Boots and shoes Children's pairs. . Men's pairs. . Women's pairs. . Meat and dairy products Beef products Oleomargarine, imitation batter lbs. Beef lbs. . Hog products Hams and shoulders, cured lbs. Lard lbs . Pork, pickled lbs. Lard compoimds and substitutes for lard lbs . All other meat products Butter lbs . Cheese lbs . Oils- Mineral, reflned or manufactured Gas oil and fuel oil galls. , Illuminating galls. Lubricating and hea\'y paraffin galls.. Naphthas, etc.—Gasoline galls. . Vegetable, flxed , etc.—Cottonseed lbs. . Paper, and manufactures of Soap Spirits—Alcohol (including pure, neutral, or cologne spir- its) pf. galls. . Starch lbs.. Sugar, refined lbs. . Tobacco Unraanufactiu'ed—Leaf lbs. . Manufactures of Vegetables Beans and dried peas bush.. Potatoes (except sweet potatoes) bush. . All other Wood, manufactures of Lumber—Boards, planks, deals, etc. Pine—White M ft Pine, yellow-Pitch M ft . . Furniture All other manufactures of , -A.11 other articles Quantities. 1914 1915 6,391 15,681 16,924 110,841 33,146 50,648 5.S, 239 107,110 188,336 31,758 13,712 26,827 179,499 10, 851 38,866 60,415 48, 177 135,533 280,052 123,079 3,479 3,560 320 469 Total domestic exports. Total foreign exports Total exports of merchandise. 3,593 10,533 9,767 117, 700 23,810 40, 557 51,535 110, 627 178,891 24,770 26, 814 41,266 121,446 13,055 16,499 41,501 39, 530 110,496 121,910 74,455 2,996 6,204 155 1,066 Values. 1914 1915 ?5,389 20, 622 18,415 11,578 3,601 8,561 6,671 12,145 19, 731 6,894 5,997 2,422 2,327 20, 647 3,377 8,021 4,899 5,798 4,165 13, 600 4,861 13.809 3,323 10,305 2,868 2,253 10,370 10,844 42,427 10, 324 56.275 889,461 1,505 890,966 ?2, 738 14,418 11,181 11,914 2,856 6,934 5,549 12,200 16,240 7,123 5,179 5,130 4,196 12,804 4,294 3,103 3,357 5,731 4,794 11, 128 4,021 5,769 6,967 3,655 11,552 5,147 1,943 6,116 24,334 1,430 9,187 49,643 700,713 2,641 703, 354 The United States first attempted the purchase of these islands in 1865, during the administration of President Lincohi. Secretary Seward ai)peare(l to be especially anxious that they should belong to the United States. James Parton, in 1 869, in a little work entitled "The Danish Islands, are we bound in honor to pay for them?" gives an authentic detailed account of the negotiations* carricnl on liy Secn^tary Seward, com- mencing in 1S65. It appears that Mr. Seward fii'st proj)osed to purchase the islands at a (hnncr ])arty in January, 1865. Denmark liad no desire to part witli lier AVcst India colonies. The assassination of President Lincohi and the attempted assassination of Secretary Seward suspended the negotiations for some time. In the meantime Secretary Seward vis- ited tlie islands. It was not, however, until July 17, 1866, that the United States made a definit(> offer ol 5^5,000, 000 for St. Tliomas, St. John, and Santa Cruz. CESSION OF THE DANISH WEST INDIES. 5 In 1867, Denmark declined to sell the islands for S5,000,000, but offered St. Thomas and St. John for $10,000,000, or §15,000,000 for the three. Mr. Seward replied b}" offering S7. 500, 000 in gold for the three islands. Denmark agreed to take S7, 500,000 for St. Thomas and St. John, but wanted S3, 750, 000 in addition for Santa Cruz. Finally Secretary Seward agreed to purchase wSt. Tliomas and St. Jolm for the price named by Denmark, $7,500,000, but further complications arose because Denmark insisted that the consent of the people of the islands should be formally given before the sale was consummated. This was at first objected to by Mr. Seward, but he finally cabled our minister to ''concede question of vote," and on the 24th of October the treaty was signed. The c^uestion was submitted to a vote of the people, the voting occurrhig in St. Thomas on January 9, 1868, and out of 1,039 votes cast there were but 22 votes against the cession. In St. John there were but 205 votes in favor of the cession and not one against it. The treaty was submitted to the Rigsdag of Denmark and promptly ratified and signed by the King on June 31, 1868. It was submitted to the United States Senate on December 3, 1867. Senator Sumner was chairman of the Committee on Foreign Relations during this period, and the treaty remained unreported for more than two years, when on March 24, 1870, Senator Sumner reported it adversely ancl the Senate declined to ratify it. The negotiations for the purchase of the islands commenced under President Lincoln ; the treaty was signed shortly after Andrew Johnson became President, but it was not acted upon until the administration of President Grant. Subsec|uently it appears that the purchase of the islands was con- sidered by Secretaries Foster and Olney during the administration of Presidents Harrison and Cleveland. On March 31, 1898, the Committee on Foreign Relations reported to the Senate a bill authorizing the President to purchase the islands for use as a naval and coaling station. On this bill Senator Lodge submitted an exhaustive report, giving in detail the history of the islands, and summarizing the history of the negotiations for their purchase by the United States. Attached to tliis report is to be found correspondence of Secretaries Foster and Olney. Mi\ Lodge's report is attached hereto and made a part of this report. On January 24, 1902, a convention was signed at Washington by Mr. Hay, Secretary of State, and Mr. Brun, Danish minister, for the cession to the United States of "the islands of Saint Thomas, Saint John, and Sainte Croix, in the West Indies, with the adjacent islands and rocks," the consideration being $5,000,000. This convention was favorabh' reported by the Committee on Foreign Relations on February 5, 1902, and ratified by the United States Senate February 17, 1902. The treaty was approved by one House of the Danish Rigsdag; but, October 21, 1902, the other house by a vote of 32 to 32 declined to ratify it. The pending convention is the third treaty ceding the islands to the United States by Denmark. 6 CESSION OF THE DANISH WEST INDIES. VALUE OF THE ISLANDS TO THE UNITED STATES. These islands, together witli Porto Rioo, are of great importanee in a strategic way, whether tlie strategy be miHtary or commercia]. St. Thomas is the natural point of call for all European trade bound to the West Indies, Central America, or northern South America. The islands form the northeastern corner of the Caribbean Sea and> are of great importance in connection with the Panama Canal, and are of the first importance in connection with our relations to the region of the Orinoco and the Amazon and with our control of the Windward Passage. Vice Admh al David D. Porter, in a letter to Secretary Seward, dated November 6, 1887, emphasized the value of these islands to the United States as a naval station. Among other things, Admiral Porter said: St. Thomas, the principal of the Viroin Islands, holds the most prominent position in the West Indies as a naval and commercial station. It is situated in latitude 18° 22' north, lono;itudc 65° 26' west and lies rii^ht in the track of all vessels from Europe, Brazil, East Indies, and the Pacific Ocean, bound to the West India Islands, or to the United States. It is the point where all vessels touch for supplies, wdien needed, com- inj; from any of the above stations. It is a central point from which any or all of the ^Yest India Islands can be assailed, while it is impervious to attacks from landing parties, and can be fortified to any extent. Nothing can be more beautiful than the town and bay of St. Thomas as seen from the sea. or from the great siunmit that over- looks them. The bay, at the head of which lies the town of St. Thomas, is almost circular, the entrance being by a neck, guarded by two heavy fort*, which although not capable at present of resisting the heavy ordnance now in use, can be so strengthened and protected that no foreign power could ever hope to take it. St. Thomas is a small Gibraltar of itself and could only be attacked by a naval force * * *. There is no harbor in the West Indies better fitted tlian St. Thomas for a naval station. Its harbor and that of St. John and the harbors formed by Water Island, would contain all the vessels of the largest navy in the v.orld, where they would be ])rote'jted at all times from bad weather and be secure against an enemy. In fine, I think St. Thomas is the keystone to the arch of the "West Indies: it com- mands them all. The report of the Committee on Foreign Relations, submitted by Senator Cullom in 1902 ciuotes Maj. Glassford, of the Signal Corps, relative to the military advantages of St. Thomas, as follows: The island of St. Thomas offers conditions suitable for developing a first-class military outpost. This island possesses all the natural advantages, enabling it to be converted into a second Gibraltar. The structure of this narrow island, with its long central ridge, having a general elevation of about 1,000 feet, with some points 500 feet higher, is especially adapted for the emplacement of fortifications commanding both shores at the same time, niaking it extremely difficult for an enemy to approach or to obtain a foothold upon the island. The elevated ground in the immediate neighborhood of the excellent roadsteads which this island affords makes the ciues- tion of harbor defense a comparatively easy one. This position, with its few inhabi- tants, could be easily provisioned for a long siege. The harbor of Charlotte Amalie and the munerous sheltered places about the island afforcl (i and 7 fathoms of water. Beside, this harbor and the roadsteads are on the southern side of the island, com- pletely protected from the prevailing strong winds. If this place were strongly fortified and provisioned, it would be necessary for an enemy contemplating a descent upon Porto Rico to first take it into account. This location on the northeast rim of the Antilles is in close proximity to many of the passages into the Caribbean Sea, and affords an excellent point of observation near ICuropean possessions in the archipelago. While being near other islands, St. Thomas is practically in the open ocean, and permits the entrance and egress of a fleet without its being observed. It is also a center of the West Indian submarine cable systems, being ai)out midway Ijetween the Windward Passage and the Trinidad entrance into the Caribbean Sea. CESSION OF THE DANISH WEST INDIES. 7 THE TREATY. This convention provides that the cession shall include all public property and Government archives, bars the impairment of private rights, and gives to the Danish National Church the undisturbjd use of its churches. Arms and military stores belonging to the Danish Government shall remain the property of that Government and be removed by it, unless purchased in whole or in part by the United States. Claims held by Denmark against the colonial treasuries are extinguished by reason of the cession, and no responsibility is assumed by the United States. Certain concessions named in the treaty are confirmed b}^ the United States and are to be maintained in accordance with the terms on which the concessions were given. Delivery of the islands by Denmark is to be made bj' agents of the Danish Government to agents of the United States immediately upon the payment of the sum of money stipulated in the convention, $25,000,000, which is to be paid in gold within 90 days from the date of the exchange of the ratifications of the convention. Provision is made for the preseivation of Danish citizenship by residents of the islands desiring to" do so, and for subsequent renuncia- tion when desired. The civil rights and political status of the in- habitants shall be determined by the Congress of the United States, subject to the stipulations of the treaty. Treaties, conventions, and other international agreements between the United States are to apply ipso facto to the islands, provided there is no provision to the contrary. Provision is made for the submission to The Hague Tribunal of any disputes between the high contracting parties as to the interpretation or application of the treaty's terms, if there should arise any differ- ences that can not be otherwise settled. EESOI.UTION OF RATIFICATIOX. Resolved, etc., That the Senate advise and consent to the ratifica- tion of the convention between the United States and Denmark, by which Denmark cedes to the United States the Danish West Indian Islands, which convention was signed at New York on the fourth day of August, nineteen hundred and sixteen, by Robert Lansing, Secretary of State, on behalf of the United States, and by Constan- • tin Brun, envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary at Washington, representing His Majesty the King of Denmark, on behalf of Denmark, and which convention is set forth in its original form in Executive Document D, Sixty-fourth Congress, first session: Provided, Tiowever, That it is declared by the Senate that in advising and consenting to the ratification of the said convention, such advice and consent are given with the understanding, to be expressed as a part of the instrument of ratification, that such convention shall not be taken and construed by the high contracting parties as imposing any trust upon the United States with respect to any funds belong- ing to the Danish National Church in the Danish West Indian Islands, or m which the said church may have an mterest, nor as imposmg upon the United States any duty or responsibility with respect to the management of any property belonging to said church, beyond protecting said church in the possession and use of church property 8 CESSION OF THE DANISH WEST INDIES. as stated in said convention, in the same manner and to the same extent only as other churches shall be protected in the possession and use of their several properties : And provided further, That the Senate advises and consents to the ratification of said convention on condition that the attitude of the United States in tliis particular as set forth in the above proviso, be made the subject of an exchange of notes between the Governments of the two high contracting par- ties, so as to make it plain that this condition is understood and accepted by the two Governments, the purpose hereof being to bring the said convention clearly within the constitutional powers of the United States with respect to church establishment and free- dom of religion. APPENDIX A. NAVAL STATION IN THE WEST INDIES. Makch 31, 1898.—Ordered to be printed. Mr. Lodge, from the Committee on Foreign Relations, submitted the following REPORT. [To accompany S. 4303.] The three islands of the Antilles now in the possession of Denmark are St. Thomas, St. John, and Santa Cruz. St. Thomas lies in 18° 20' 40" north latitude and 64° 55' 38" west longitude, and St. John about 3 miles to the southeast of it. They both form part of the group known as the Virgin Islands, which lies about 38 miles from the Spanish island of Puerto Rico at the nearest point. This group of about fifty islands, small and large, scattered over an area 24 leagues east and west by 16 north and south, was discovered and named on November 30 by Christopher Columbus during his sec- ond voyage to the West Indies, in 1493. At the time of discovery these islands were, when inhabited at all, in the possession of the Caribs, a tribe of warlike cannibals, and it was not until 1550 that they were definitely driven from the archipelago b}^ the Emperor Charles V. It is not entirely certain when and by whom St. Thomas, the largest of the Virgin group, was first settled. On recent and reliable author- ity, however, Erik Smidt, who was, it appears, at the head of a trad- ing company which had been formed at Copenhagen at about that time, took possession of the island in behalf of the Danish Crown on the 30th of May, 1666. The Danes, however, seem not to have been the first settlers, but there is no certainty who the first settlers actu- ally were. At all events, in 1671, on the forming of the West India and Guinea Company at Copenhagen, the island of St. Thomas passed definitely under the Danish Crown, and, with the exception of a short period in 1801 and from 1807 to 1815, when on both occa- sions it was occupied as a war measure, the island has remained" under the Danish flag for two hundred and twenty years. 10 CESSION OF THE DANISH WEST INDIES. In i\ letter written by the directors of the Danish West India Com- pany on December 20, 1716, permission was given to 16 of the inhabit- ants of St. Thomas to cultivate the island of St. John. The Danes had taken formal possession in 1684, and after the settlement the fate of this little island was bound with that of its larger sister. The events in the history of these two islands are not numerous. In 1724 St. Thomas was formally declared a port of entrance for all nations, though this had in fact long been the case. In 1733 occurred the great slave insurrection on the island of St. John, which resulted in the death of several whites and which was finally put down by the assistance of some French troops from Santo Domingo. The history of the island of Santa Cruz, which lies somewhat to the south of the Virgin group, is far more dramatic. Discovered by Columbus in the same month in which he came upon the Virgin group, we first find it inhabited in the year 1643 by two distinct parties of English and Dutch. Two years later, as a result of mutual jealousies and civil war betAveen the two parties, the Dutch were com- pelled to leave the island. The English, however, were not long al- lowed to enjoy the fruits of their victory, for in 1650 they were at- tacked by a force of 1,200 Spaniards and driven from the island. A small company of Spaniards Avas left to hold the place. After an unsuccessful attem})t to regain possession of the island by the Dutch, the 65 Spaniards who had been left to defend it were attacked by a force of 160 Frenchmen from St. Kitts and surrendered to the new- comers without resistance. Thus in the space of seven years English, Dutch, Spanish, and French had in turn sought to gain possession of the island of Santa Cruz. During the next century its history Avas also eventful. In 1651 the Knights of Malta bought St. Christopher, St. Martin. St. Bar- tholomew, Tortuga, and Santa Cruz for 120,000 livres. Avhich were paid doAvn by Commandant de Poincey. He Avas thus virtual oAvner of the islands until 1653. Avhen he ceded them to the Knights of Malta, Avhose dominion Avas confirmed by a royal concession, made in March, 1683, and signed by Louis XIV. The affairs of the islands Avere not prosperous, oAving to sickness, restriction of their commerce, and con- sequent hindrance to agriculture. After futile attempts to restore prosperity to the islands, things became so bad that in 1720 the French settlers demolished their forts, abandoned the island, and re- moved to Santo Domingo. "After this," says Knox, " it Avas visited by the shijis of all nations until 1727, Avhen the French captured seven English merchant vessels,' which Avere lying there, and again took possession of the island. From this time until the year 1753 it con- tinued to be the property of France, from Avhom it Avas at length purchased by King Christian VI for 750,000 French livres." In 1736 the Danish West India Company allied themselves Avith a body of merchants in Copenhagen, and. by excluding the Dutch from all commerce Avith the islands, established a monopoly of trade. The result of this restriction Avas most unfortunate to the islanders, and things Avent from bad to Avoi'se until in 1758 the King took over the colonies, paying the company 2,200,000 pieces of eight ($1,418,000) for them. They haAc remained ever since in the possession of the Danish CroAvn. Santa Cruz, the capital of the Danish Islands, has an area of about 81 English square miles. Its shape is elongated, being about 19 Eng- CESSION OF THE DANISH WEST INDIES. 11 lish miles east and west and from 5 to 1 English miles north and south. The northern part of the island is intersected from east to Avest by a range of hills or low mountains. The southwestern part of the island is level or slightly undulating. The shores are surrounded by coral reefs, except in the northwest, where depths of 1,000 fathoms are found near the shore. There are several small creeks or water- courses in the island. The climate is tropical, the temperature high and subject to little variation; the yearly average is 27.2° C.. with^a little more than three degrees ditference"^ between the mean tempera- ture during the warmest month, August, and the coldest month, February. A trade wind blows during the whole year with the exception of the hurricane months—August, September, and October—when it becomes irregular and sometimes ceases altogether. According to the last census the population of St. Croix numbered 19,683 souls, of which 9,552 are males and 10,251 females. The town of Christian- sted contains 5,499 persons and Frederiksted 3,685. The remainder live in the rural districts. Sugar is the staple production. Of the 51,980 acres which the island contains 16,178 acres are in sugar, and of the remainder 29,776 acres are chiefly pasture, while 4,926 acres are unused. There are some 100 sugar estates on the island in culti- vation, and in 1896 the export of sugar amounted to about 15,000 tons. There is semiweekly regular communication with St. Thomas, and the Quebec and the Pickford and Black lines of steamers pro- ceed as a rule from St. Thomas to West End or Frederiksted on their outward voyages, the former touching at both ports on the return. The island of St. Thomas is about 13 miles long by 4 in width, with a population of something like 12,000 souls, of which about 200 enjoy electoral privileges. Owing to its geographical position and fine harbor, which is so easy of access, it long maintained an important position as the entrepot of the West Indies, headquarters for many lines of steamers, a coaling station, and a port of refuge. In late years business has somewhat fallen away. St. Thomas is the West India headquarters and coaling station of the Hamburg-American Packet Company, and the German, French, and English mail com- panies also have coaling stations there. The French mail stops once a nionth from Havre, Bordeaux, and the Spanish port of Santander, with an intercolonial boat from Martinique and Guadeloupe. The German mail from Hamburg direct about every ten days, and the English mail every fourteen days, make connection with the English and French Windward Islands. The New York service is done by the Quebec Line about every three weeks, and by the " Eed D " Line once a month. The Pickford and Black steamers call regularly every four weeks from St. Johns, New Brunswick, and Halifax via Ber- muda. In addition there is a monthly service by the West India and Pacific Company from Liverpool, proceeding to Colon, Jamaica, etc. St. John is an island with an area of 42 square miles and a popula- tion of 915 souls. The product of the island is sugar. The first negotiations of the United States for the purchase of the Danish Islands were begun by INlr. Seward, then Secretary of State, in Januaiy, 1865, at least so it is supposed. There is mention in contemporary pamphlets of a dinner party at the French embassy, where Mr. Seward first expressed to General Raaslof, the Danish charge d'affaires, the desire of the L^nited States to buv the Danish 12 CESSION OF THE DANISH WEST INDIES. Islands in the Antilles. Afterwards other conferences followed of an unofficial character, Mr. Seward urging the Danish minister, who replied that Denmark had no desire to sell the islands. Great secrecy was insisted upon and preserved. This was under the Presidency of Lincoln. General Raaslof, who was himself opposed to the sale, re- ported these interviews to his Government, who replied that it would be advisable to drop the negotiations, as the Danish Government had no desire to part with these colonies. Mr. Seward's carriage accident, consequent illness, and temporary incapacity for public affairs con- firmed this attitude on the part of Denmark. In April came the assassination of the President, the wounding of Mr. Seward, and the accession of Mr. Johnson to the Chief Executive. Mr. SeAvard's recovery was slow, and it was not until December, 1865, on the eve of his departure for the South, a journey taken to restore his health, that the Secretary of State again mentioned the matter to General Raaslof. The complexion of affairs was now somewhat al- tered. A new ministry had come into power at Copenhagen, and it was less opposed to the sale than the former one had been. Hence, a note to Mr. Seward, declaring that although the Government had no desire to sell, still it was net unwilling to entertain the Secretary's propositions. A request was made that the United States declare how much it was willing to give. Mr. Seward departed, and during his absence visited St. Thomas and convinced himself of the necessity of the purchase. On his re- turn he pressed General Raaslof to name a price, and the Danish minister in turn demanded that, as the ITnited States wished to buy and not Denmark to sell, an offer should be made by the American Government. Finally, on July 17, 1866, as General Raaslof was leav- ing for Copenhagen, Mr. Seward delivered to him a note offering, on behalf of the United States, $5,000,000 for the three Danish islands, St. Thomas, St. John, and Santa Cruz. Mr. Seward personally in- formed General Raaslof that the representative of the United States in Denmark would, for a time, have charge of the affair; also that the United States was not pressed for an answer. A few days after General Raaslof left America, and soon after his arrival at Copen- hagen he Avas appointed minister of war. and, in the work of reor- ganizing the Danish army, lost sight of affairs in America. Count Frijs. the Danish minister for foreign affairs, who conse- quently now had charge of the negotiations, was in favor of the sale, but still the affair dragged until January 19, 1867, when Mr. Yeaman, United States minister at Copenhagen, received the folloAving tele- gram from Mr. Seward : " Tell Raaslof haste important." However, nothing was done for two months. Denmark felt a good deal of hesi- tation, owing to the uncertainty of the treaty being ratified by the Senate, but she became more assured by the absence of opposition in the ITnited States to the purchase scheme and by the speedy ratifi- cation of the Alaska i^urchase treaty. Nevertheless, at the end of two mf)nths Mr. Seward telegrai)he(l again to Mr. Yeaman. " AVant yea or nay now." Mr. Yeaman at once communicated with General Raaslof, but it was not until the 17t]i of May, 1867, that Count Frijs made a counter proposition to Mr. Seward's note. Through the me- dium of Mr. Yeaman, he declined on behalf of Denmark the offer of $5,000,000 :in(l offered the islands for $15,000,000, or St. Thomas and CESSIOlSr OF THE DANISH WEST INDIES. 13 St. John for $10,000,000, with the option of taking Santa Cruz for $5,000,000 more. ' Count Frijs explained that the ratification of the treaty of cession by the Rigsdag would be necessary, and that the Danish Government would require that the consent of the people of the islands should be freely and formally given. In ten days Mr. Yeaman was in recei^jt of Mr. Seward's answer to this proposition, wdiich was in substance this : " The United States will pay for the three islands $7,500,000 in gold." Mr. Seward objected, however, to the condition that the con- sent of the inhabitants of the islands was necessary, and thought it sufficient that they should have the free choice of leaving the islands within two years or remaining and becoming American citizens. Mr. Yeaman immediateh^ communicated these instructions to the Danish minister for foreign affairs, who promised an early answer. This answer was given in a month, in an interview between Count Frijs and Mr. Yeaman. Mr. Seward's second offer was refused and a counter proposition made. This was that Denmark would cede the islands for $11,250,000, or 20,000,000 Danish rix dollars, or St. Thomas and St. John for $7,500,000, and Santa Crux at option for $3,750,000. Count Frijs further declared that taking a vote of the people of the islands before the cession was absolutely indispensable. Mr. Seward's second offer being thus formally rejected by the Danish Government, Mr, Yeaman now informed Count Frijs that his instructions obliged him to announce that the offer of the United States was w ithdrawn and the negotiations ended. Nevertheless, on July 6, 1867, Mr. Seward telegraphed to Mr. Adams in London : "Tell Yeaman close with Denmark's offer. St. John, St. Thomas, seven and one-half millions. Eeport brief by cable. Send treaty ratified immediately." Still the negotiations lagged. Mr. Seward was strongly opposed to the vote by the islanders, but the Danish Govern- ment was firm on this point, and he finally cabled to Mr. Yeaman: " Concede question of vote." On the 2ttth of October, 1867, the treaty was finally signed by the Danish minister and by Mr. Yeaman on behalf of the United States. There remained the vote of the islanders. Mr. Carstensen was sent as Danish commissioner to take the vote, and Mr. Seward dispatched Dr. Hawlev to the islands to attend to American interests. He ar- rived at St". Thomas on the 12th ot November, 1867; on the 18th of November, before the vote was taken, there occurred a terrible earth- quake, which did much damage to the island, and affairs came tempo- rarily to a standstill. They were resumed on November 26, and on January 9, 1868, the vote was taken in St. Thomas, and on the follow- ing day in St. John. In the larger island there were cast 1,039 votes for the cession and only 22 against it, and in the smaller 205 votes for and none against. There were fears in Denmark that the United States would not ratify even after Denmark was fully committed, but Mr. Seward calmed these fears with renewed assurances of suc- cess, and after some hesitation the treaty was ratified by the Rigsdag and signed by the King on January 31, 1868. This ratification oc- curred in the midst of the fierce political war between President Johnson and Congress. The limit of time named in the treaty for ratification was February 24, 1868, and this went by without action by Congress. The time was then extended to October 14, 1868. All, 14 CESSION OF THE DANISH WEST INDIES. however, was useless. Denmark made repeated endeavors, in the person of her minister and through the medium of other powers, to conchide the negotiations, but in vain. The treaty fell a victim to the storm of political hatred then raging in this country, and in the ses- sion of 1868, after an adverse report, the United States Senate dropped it. In Schuyler's American Diplomacy, page 23, we find the following comment : Denmark had no particular desire to sell to the United States, but was per- suaded to do so. The Inhabitants of the islands had already voted to accept the United States as their sovereign. The late Mr. Charles Sunnier, then chairman of the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate, who v,as engaged in a personal quarrel with the administration, simply refused to report back the treaty to the Senate, and he was supported by a sufficient number of his com- mittee and of Senators to enable the matter to be left in this position. It re- quired new negotiations to prolong the term of ratification, and it was with great difficulty that in a subsequent session the treaty was finally brought be- fore the Senate and rejected. As may be imagined, our friendly relations witli Denmark were considerably impaired by tins method of doing business. After a lapse of twenty-four years since the rejection of this treaty, the negotiations were reopened in 1892, while Hon. John W. Foster was Secretary of State. The accompanying papers (Appendix A), which, in response to a request for information, were sent to the chairman of the Committee on Foreign Relations by the Assistant Secretary of State on May 12, 1897, contain a full account of the most recent negotiations, including, in addition to those of Mr. Foster, the correspondence of Mr. Olne}" on this subject, in 1896, for the pur- chase of the Danish Islands and of the condition and value of the harbor of St. Thomas. The arguments in favor of the possession of these islands can be briefly stated, and appear to the undersigned to be unanswerable. So long as these islands are in the market there is always the danger that some European power may purchase or try to purchase them. This would be an infraction of the Monroe doctrine, and would at once involve the United States in a very serious difficulty with the European power Avhich sought possession of the islands. In the in- terest of peace, it is of great importance that these islands should pass into the hands of the United States and cease to be a possible source of foreign complications, which might easily lead to war. From a military point of view the value of these islands to the United States can hardW be overestimated. We have always been anxious to have a good naval and coaling station in the West Indies. Important in time of peace, such a station Avould be essential to our safet}^ in time of war. Successive administrations have labored to secure a West Indian naval station. During the war of the reljel- lion the United States leased the harbor of St. Nicholas from Hayti for this purpose. General Grant endeavored during his Presidency to secure Samana Bay. The effort to obtain the Danish Islands, as has been shown, was begun by Mr. Seward during the Presidency of Abraham Lincoln. The fine harbor of St. Thomas fulfills all the re- quired naval and military conditions. As has been pointed out by Captain Mahan. it is one of the great strategic i)oints in the West Indies. The poi)ulati()n of the three islands is only 33.000, of whom nearly 30.000 ai-e negroes, the others being chiefly of English or Danish extraction. There is no possi- CESSION OF THE DANISH WEST INDIES. 15 bility of any material increase in the population, and annexation would never involve at any time the troublesome question of State- hood. The Danish Islands could easily be governed as a Territory could be readily defended from attack, occupy a commanding strate- gic position, and are of incalculable value to the United States, not only as a part of the national defense, but as removing by their pos- session a very probable cause of foreign complications. Appendix A. [Confidential.] Legation of the United States, Copenhagen, Xeji-eiuher 28. 1892. SiE : I am unofficially authorized to inform you that a proposal from the Gov- ernment of the United States to revive the convention of 1867, by which it was proposed to cede the islands of St. Thomas and St. .John to the United States, would now receive favorable consideration from the Danish Government, the meaning of which is that the Danish Government will now, if desired, cede those islands to the United States upon the terms of the convention of 1867. The incidents through which I feel myself authorized to so inform you are as follows : On Thursday, the 1.5th instant, I called upon Mr. Estrup, the minister of finance and premier of Denmark, to sjieak with him in regard to the loan of the Icelandic books giving an account of the discovery of America by Lief Anderson, so nmch desired by you for the State Department exhibit at the World's Columbian Exposition. In the course of the conversation we recalled some of the interesting questions which have been considered by the United States and Denmark, and special reference was made to the treaty in question, in which Mr. Estrup was specially interested, he having been at tlie time of its consideration a member of the Danish cabinet, occupying the post of minister of the interior. Reference was also made to his (Mr. Estrup's) conversations with Colonel Arendrup, governor of the Danish West Indies, an account of which I gave in my No. 47 of July 17, 1891. In the course of the conversation Mr. Estrup said that he would now be will- ing to cede those islands to the United States, and indicated that he would be willing to do so upon the terms then agreed upon, etc., and it was suggested that the treaty could be revived, etc. I replied that while I had no authority from my Government to make any declaration whatsoever in regard to the matter, I should feel it to be my duty, if informed that the Danish Government vrere willing to give the matter favorable consideration, to so report to my Government. I then explained the condition of affairs at Washington incident to the coming change of Administration, and said that it was scarcely probable, however the matter might be regarded, that there could be any action at pres- ent, etc., but added tliat there seemed to be a growing feeling in the United States that we require a naval, coaling, and supply station in the West Indies, etc. The conversation was quite extended, the minister giving me his views at length, the substance of which was that while these islands would be of inesti- mable value to the United States, it would be better for Denmark to cede them on the terms of the convention of 1867, etc. I left him, substantially agreeing with him in this view of the matter, but declaring that I had no authority to make any proposals, nor even suggestions, and that I should not feel it to be my duty to give the matter attention unless it should appear that the Danish Government was disposed to give the matter favorable consideration, in which case I should feel it to be my duty to inform my Government of such disposi- tion, etc. On Tuesday, the 22d instant, a week after this conversation, IMr. Estrup called at my house to say that he had been considering the matter since our interview, and had spoken at length concerning it with Baron Reedtz-Thott, the minister of foreign affairs, who was of the same opinion as himself, and that he, Baron Reedtz-Thott, would speak with me about it, etc. On the same afternoon, upon my calling at the foreign office, the matter was brought up and Baron Reedtz-Thott expressed himself as equally ready to receive with favorable consideration a proposal from our Government to revive the 16 CESSION OF THE DAXISH WEST INDIES. treatj', etc. I repeated to him what I had said to tlie premier as regarded the present Administration, and that I liad no authority to make any proposal nor suggestion, etc., he declaring that lie Ivnew this perfectly well, that Mr. Estrup and he had talked this all over, but that they could see no harm in me and my Government being apprised confidentially of their views, etc. I then said that I should feel it to be my duty to communicate these views confiden- tially to you, etc. About an hour after I left the minister of foreign affairs, he called upon me at my house and said that he had been reflecting upon the matter and had con- cluded that it was his duty, before authorizing me to make any statement to my Government, to lay it before His Majesty the King, which he could do in a day or two, to v.'hich I, of course, replied that I would await further informa- tion from him. On Friday afternoon, three days later, the minister of foreign affairs again called upon me at my house and simply said : " You may write to your Govern- ment that the matter will receive favorable consideration." The question will naturally arise as to the motives which prompted the Danish authorities to so express themselves in regard to this matter, and it may pos- sibly be inferred that the Government is in financial embarrassment and that money is needed to tide over some pressing financial difficulties. This is by no means the condition of affairs. There is scarcely a Government of Europe whose financial condition or credit is more sound. The Danes are a prudent, eco- nomical, thrifty people, with whom the idea of pay as you go is carried out in public as well as in private affairs. There is no emergency which requires them to so act, and while the authorities express themselves confidentially, as has been stated, in consequence of the failure of the treaty of 1867 in the Senate of the United States, they will never formally propose that it be revived. What- ever may be the views of our people upon the action of the Senate at that time, after the people of those islands, at the suggestion and request of the King of Denmark, had, with almost perfect imaniiuity, voted for separation, and the Danish Rigsdag had confirmed the treaty, the failure of the Senate of the United States to confirm it was most humiliating to the Danes. There are, however, certain public improvements which the Danes would like to make, to only one of which I will refer. In the otherwise beautiful city of Copenhagen the most conspicuous and un- siglitly object is the ruined palace of Christiansborg, whose grim and blackened walls have stood since 1SS4, when the great edifice was burned. It has been the abode of royalty, contained the assembly chambers of their legislative bodies, great galleries of art, and all that went to make up and embellish this magnifi- cent building, which was really the capitol of Denmark. The entrances to the great palace were sentineled by colossal statues, masterpieces of Thorwaldsen, wonders of art, which fortunately were uninjured and are still standing in all their splendor, in striking contrast with the gi'im and somber ruin they were created to adorn. From every quarter of the city one may see Christiansborg, which, though in ruins, in grandeur and subliuuty still surpass every otlier object. Everywhere in Copenhagen, and even in the country, one is reminded of the ruins of the great palace. In several of the galleries of art one sees ex- quisite pictures, creations of the great masters, which were torn from their frames while tl^e palace was burning. Surrounding the ruined palace, adjoining the courtyard, are the Thorwaldsen IMusoum, th.e Old North ]\Iuseum, the great library containing GOO.OOO volumes, and the departments of state, all of which were saved from destruction. It was in one of tiiese buildings, an annex to the ruined palace, the dejiartment of finance, where I first si)oke with Mr. Estrup on this question, and from this jioint of view it did not seem strange to me than a finance nnnister of this King- dom should be willing and should regard it as the part of wisdom to obtain the means of restoring his capital and to make other public improvements through the ce.ssion of territory thousands of nnles distant, whose people have voted witli almost perfect unaninnty and .still wish to cast their lot with the people of the hennsphere to which they belong and with whom they are allied in lan- guage and in trade relations. I need not i-ecall the argument upon the treaty of a quarter of a century ago, but it is proper lliat somclhiiig b(> said about tlie harbor of St. Thomas and the conditions that now jti-csent tlienisclvi's. It is almost circular in form, the en- trance to which is by a neck guarded i)y two heavy forts, and capable of accom- modating oOO vi'ssels. The island, 13 miles long by an average of 3 miles wide, has l)een justly designated as a small Gibraltar. It is asserted by the highest authority that it can at .small expense i)e made impregnable. CESSIOlSr OF THE DANISH WEST INDIES. 17 Unlike the mole of St. Nicholas, where a large amount would have to be ex- pended to erect suitable wharves and other necessary improvements and to defend them against dangers from a capricious government. St. Thomas has already, throiigh private enterprise, her great wharves, upon which thousands of tons of coal are deposited, an enormous floating dock capable of receiving vessels of 3,000 tons, marine slips for repairing small vessels, immense cisterns for the storage of water for the supply of vessels, a factory where every kind of iron- work for the repair of vessels can be turned out, including boilers, shafts, etc. The representatives of every industry and trade relating to the building and supply and navigation of ships—ship brokers, ship carpenters and calkers, ii'on founders, coal dealers, and others—can supply every demand of commerce. There are wharves alongside of which ships drawing 27 feet of water can be moored and coaled, day or night, at the rate of from 60 to 100 tons per hour. It is asserted and believed that the necessary defenses and the furnishing and equipping any other naval station in the West Indies, which nature and enter- prise have already supplied to St. Thomas, if this were possible, would cost much more than the sum fixed upon in 1S67 as a consideration foi the cession of the islands of St. Thomas and St, .John to the United States. These Danish Islands, with the splendid harbor of St. Thomas, presenting all we can possibly desire for a naval and supply station—location, security, am- plitude, development—everything is within our reach upon terms which were regarded as reasonable when far less important or valuable to us. The vast increa.se of steam navigation necessitating supply stations for coal and ma- chinery, the expansion of our commerce, the building up of our splendid new Navy, the prospect of a ship canal across the isthmus, which will make St. Thomas one of the most important stations upon voyages around and to most of the countries of the world, all these considerations and many more combine to make the possession of this harbor of far more importance to us than when the question of its acquisition was under consideration a quarter of a cen tury ago. I therefore feel it to be ray imperative duty to apprise yon of the views of the Danish authorities in regard to this important matter, and at the same time to venture to declare as my deliberate opinion that we should avail oiirselves of the opportunity which now presents itself to -acquire this haven and stronghold for our conunerce and ships of war, and to expi-ess the hope that this Adminis- tration, if it can do no more, will take measures to open the way to so desirable a consummation. I have, etc.. Hon. JOHX W. FOSTEK, Secretary of State, Washington, D. C. Clakk E. Cark. Legation of the United States, Copenhagen, Novemlier 29, 1892. Dear Mr. SecreTxVKY : I send you to-day a confidential dispatcli, No. 129, on the Danish West Indies, by which you will see that, without committing myself or tlie Government in the least, I have learned that we can have St. Thomas and St. John on the terms agreed upon in 1867. I believe that we must have a station in that region, and that it will be found that this is tlie best one available, and that it will be sought for on our part soon, and that this Administration .should take the initiative. This can now be done if desired, but should the President not be inclined to do so, we are not, as you will see. committed in the least. It seems to me that it would be wise for the President to take up the matter of securing such a station in his message to Congress, but of course I would not presume to advise him. There are certainly many reasons why we had better have such a splendid harbor and own the whole islands inhabited by a people who really desire to cast their lot with us, and who will become loyal, patriotic Americans, than to have a station situated among a people of a dif- ferent nationality. Whatever may be thought of the matter, I hope that you will so instruct me that I may be able to show Mr. Estrup and Baron Reedtz-Thott that you are not indifferent to their feelings in the matter, and that you appreciate the sug- gestions they have confidentially made in our private unofficial interviews. They will not be disappointed if you simply say that the matter can not be 77934—17 2 18 CESSION OF THE DANISH WEST INDIES. taken up so late in the Administration, as I have informed them that tliis will probably be the case, but you know far better than I what is best. You are only, of course, supposed to be confidentially informed that it will receive favorable consideration. * * * Gen. John W. Foster. Clark E. Cakb. rConfideutiaL] DEPARTiUSNT OF STATE, Washington, December 20. 1892. Sib : I have to acknowledge the receipt of your confidential dispatch No. 129, of November 28, 1892, with reference to the willingness evinced by the Danish Government to cede to the United States the islands of St. Thomas and St. John on the basis of the convention of 1867. I take pleasure in commending the skill and tact with which you have re- ceived the approach of the Danish Government on the subject, and while ascer- taining the disposition of. the Danish Government have in no way committed the Government of the United States. The question of the acquisition of the islands is one of far-reaching and na- tional importance, the extent of which is appreciated by no one more than the President. As his administration is, however, drawing to its close, he considers it inadvisable to express any views or indicate any policy the consummation of which he could not effect. He directs me to express his cordial appreciation of the friendly attitude of the Danish Government and of the confidence and frankness displayed by Mr. Estrup^ and Baron Reedtz-Thott in their conversations with you. You are therefore instructed to convey verbally to these gentlemen the senti- ments of the President, and to explain the reasons, if they are not clearly ap- prehended, why the present consideration of the cession of the islands of St. Thomas and St. John is impracticable. I am, etc., John W. Foster. Clark E. Carb, Esq., Copenhayen. [Telegram.] Department of State, Washington, December 31, 1892. Caek, Minister, Copenhagen: Take no action on instruction No. 128 for present. Foster. [Telegram.] Department of State, Washington, February J/, 1893. Carr, Minister, Copenhagen: l^'ou can execute instruction No. 128 at convenient opportunity. Foster. Legation of the United States, Copenhagen, January 2, 1893. Sir: On Saturday night, the 31st ultimo, I received from you a telegram as follows : " Carr, minister : Take no action on instruction No. 128 for present. Foster." On this morning came in the mail your confidential dispatch No. 128. As I understand the telegram, it is my duty to say nothing more concerning the matter until I receive further advices from the Department. Should it still be under consideration, it is no doubt better to wait, but I hope in the near future to be authorized to malce some recognition on the pai't of our Government of the suggestions of the Danish authorities. I have, etc., Clark E. Carr. Ildii. .ToHN W. Foster, Secretary of State, Washington, D. C. CESSION OF THE DANISH WEST INDIES. 19 I Confidential.] Legation of the United States, Copenhagen, Februari/ 22, 1893. Sir : Referring to iny confidential dispatch No. 129, to your confidential dis- patch No. 128, and to your two dispatches 129 and 134, and to my 132, regard- ing the confidential information that the United States can now, if desired, acquire the islands of St. Thomas and St. John upon the terms designated in the convention of 1867 between the United States and Denmark, I have to say that as soon as opportunity offered after receiving your second telegram I spoke with Mr. Estrup and Baron Reedtz-Thott, giving them the views of the President as you instructed me to do. They were not surprised at this, as I had previously given them to under- stand that it was improbable tliat the President would take the matter up when his Administration was so near its close. Each, however, spoke of the pending negotiations regarding Hawaii, and suggested that perhaps they may have had some influence in the matter, and reference was made to a statement that has appeared in the newspapers that we are looking to the acquisition of Samana Bay, etc., and tliat this may perhaps influence our Government unfavorably in regard to St. Thomas, etc. Of course I could express no opinion in regard to this, but it seemed to them, as it appears to me, that with a canal across the Isthmus the acquisition of Hawaii makes it even more important that we should have a station in the West Indies. Of course any action will depend on the views of the incoming Administra- tion. Should it be regarded as worthy of further consideration, while it would be a great satisfaction to me to be permitted to pursue a matter to which I have given some considerable thought, it will be a pleasure to me as well as my duty to aid ray succe.ssor in office in every way in my power to attain the end that may seem desirable. It seems to be the opinion of all those who are informed as to the needs of our new Navy and of our growing commerce that the time has arrived when we. require a nj;ival station in the West Indies. For such a station, in location, accessibility, amplitude, and natural strength, the harbor of St. Thomas pre- sents far greater advantages than any other that is available. With its natural advantages it can be made impregnable, and it is my delib- erate opinion that with these advantages, and its wharves and docks and build- ings and machinery already established by private enterprise, the acquisition of this splendid harbor upon the terms suggested, and its equipment, would in the end be far less expensive than that of any other in that region. I have, etc., Hon. John W. Foster, Secretary of State, Washington, D. C. Clark E. Oarr. Legation of the United States, Copenhagen, January 14, 1896. Sir : Several Nev.- York newspapers, of dates about the 1st instant, arrived here yesterday and created considerable interest by certain contents to the effect that Denmark was offering, through Mr. Henrick Cavling, a newspaper editor of this city, but now in Washington, to sell to the United States the West India Islands, St. Thomas, St. Croix, and St. John ; and intimating that if the United States did not buy them Germany would probably do so. Some newspaper reporters called at this legation and asked to be informed whether any such negotiations were pending. Of course I declined to say anything whatever on the subject. During the day I had an entirely informal conversation with Mr. Vedel, the director-general of the ministry of foreign affairs, in which he exhibited to me copies of the articles in question, which he said had been sent to him by one of the city newspapers with a request for information ; but he said he would say nothing about it to the press. To me he said, however, that Mr. Cavling was a self-appointed agent and had no authority nor instigation from the for- eign office, nor was there any negotiation whatever pending between Denmark and Germany for the sale or transfer of the islands. Thinking that in the changed condition of affairs it might be or might become desirable for the United States to reopen the negotiation for the purchase of 20 CESSION OF THE DANISH WEST INDIES. the islands, I said tliat, while I had no instruction whatever on the suhject from my Government, I would j^ersonally be glad to be informed whether Den- mark was inclined to reopen the matter. He replied that certainly Den- mark, having met with a disastrous failure in the effort of 186S, could not pro- pose to reopen it ; but if the United States should choose to do so, he was of opinion that his Government would be inclined to sell them, though he was personally opposed to it. I am aware of the action taken by the Department and my predecessor in the early months of 1893, but the subject was dropped then because of the approaching close of the Administration of President Harrison. It is wholly unnecessary for me to discuss the value of these islands to the United States. It is quite apparent that in certain contingencies they might be very useful, but whether on the whole it would be wise to purchase them I do not presume to express an opinion. All I desire to say is that if our Gov- ernment shall wish to take up the matter I believe it can be brought to a more speedy conclusion and with more seci'ecy and safety by carrying on the nego- tiation here rather than in Washington. I have, etc., John E. Risley. Hon. Richard Olney, Secretory of State, Washington, D. C. Legatio>' or THE United States, Copenhagen, January IS, 1896. Sir : I have the honor to report that early this afternoon Baron Zytphen- Adler, from the Danish foreign office, called at this legation and said the minis- ter would be much obliged if I would call at the ministry at 3.30 o'clock. On complying with the request, the minister told me he had received two cable- grams from Mr. Bruu, Danish minister at Washington, in regard to the sale of the Danish West India Islands. The first, received yesterday, was to the effect that Jlr. Brun had a conversa- tion with yourself, which his excellency said he did not clearly understand and had awaited further advices; the second came to-day and was to the effect that a j-esolution on the subject had been offered in the Senate. There was no explanation of the character of the resolution, nor was the name given of the Senator who offered it. The minister said he wished me to clearly understand that no one had been authorized to offer the islands for sale to any power v\-luitever, nor would they be offered for sale. The minister continued, however, to say that if the United States should make an offer for them he could assure me that it would be fairly considered ; that the great publicity given to the subject would no doubt increase the difficulties here and make it more difiicult to carry the matter through to success; and there might possibly be an objection from France as to the island of St. Croix, from whom it was acquired some two hundred years ago. He thought not, but deemed it right to mention the possibility, as it was better to have everything as clearly understood as possible before proceeding further. The foregoing is the substance of what his excellency said. I .eplied that I understood the position of the Danish Government to be that they would make no offer, but that if an offer should be made by the Government of the United States it would be considered in a friendly spirit, and I informed him I had already written to you to that effect, substantially, on the strength of an in- formal conversation had with Mr. Vedel, the director-general. The impre.ssion made on my mind is that the minister will gladly welcome an offer from the United States. Though not a word was said on the subject in this connection, I think the condition of political parties here would make it rallicr desirabh' to the ministry to carry to a speedy success such a negotiation. Awaiting any instructions you may have to give, I have, etc., John E. Risley. Hon. Richard Olney, Sterctary of State, Washington, D. C. o LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 013 982 482 9