The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-01-24
TIE NEGOTIATIONS FOR TIE PURCHASE OF
THE DANISH WEST INDIES.

TIE DANISH WEST INDIES.
--~~~>~~~~~>~~~-~~~~~~
Interesting Correspondence Between the
Secretary Of State and the Danish Min.
lister.
WASHINGTON, Jan. %, 1869.
Mr. Seward has submitted to the Senate the CORE
spondence in connection with the negotiations for
the purchase OF the islands Of St. Thomas, st. John
and Santa Cruz First in order Is a communication
from Mr.. Seward giving the substance OF converse
tons between himself and General Raaslon, the
Danish Minister which led to the negotiations on
January 7, 1886. Mr.. Seward informed the Danish
Minister that the United States were DESTROYS
Of obtaining possession OF the Danish West
India islands. The growing maritime inter-
ests Of this country required harbor and
depot in the West Indies but this government
did not wish to make any overtures towards the
purchase Of these islands while Denmark was at
war. The United States would not like to those
islands in the possession OF any other Power that
secrecy in regard to the negotiations OF the
highest Importance, and If anything was divulged
Mr.. Seward would hold the Danish Minister respon-
sible assigning a. his reason for such secrecy that
publicity would inevitably tend to defeat the policy
by inviting interested unfriendly foreign comblna-
lions to erfere In Iboth countries and that the pro-
position made with the approval and authority Of
President Lincoln The Danish Minister replied that
lose any more territory, but he would submit the
proposition. On the 18th OF April the Danish Minis
ter called on Mr.. Seward to communicate the con-
tents OF despatch from his government. but did
not see him, as Mr.. Seward was suffering from
wounds received by being thrown from his car
riage. On learning the intelligence Of President
Lincoln's assassination and the attempt the life
OF Mr.. Seward the Danish Minister was notified by
despatch from Copenhagen, dated May 10, not to
take any initiative IN the transfer OF the Islands
either with Mr.. Seward with his successor, II he
should die. On the 9th Of November. 1885, o new
ministry was installed In Denmark which proved
more friendly the sale Of the islands, and fresh In
structions sent to the Danish Minister, dated
December 2, to the effect that the government Of
Denmark not unwilling to consider the offer to
sideratons initiated against the transaction. Under
these circumstances Denmark desired to know how
large sum the United States were prepared to o1er
as Il depended on the iiberaty OF the oier whether
negotiations would be entered into. Mr.. Seward re-
Piled In substance, that when he made the ofrer
at first Mr.. Lincoln was President ana that now II
would be conducted by President Johnson wko
however, was not unfavorabe to the proposition
age In the De Soto, and would have no opportunity
Of laying the matter before the President until his
return. 1t was agreed that the matter should rest
until then. While absent on this voyage Mr.. Seward
visited st. Thomas and returned on the 2Sth January
1894 Next Gay S ne had an interview with the Danish
ton before the President and would inform him
what the United States government would oiIer
expected. He did not. He then asked how much
Rsaso answered that he thought 600 Wss
reasonable, but he thought $40 600 0oo would be the
seward informed the Danish Nnistsr that amer con-
gultati0n with the President II was concluded to let
Of March, when the G ana the bs nh
Minister had an interview concerning the statements
ma, made in the Newspaper e. 70 , Ne esct
Thomas. The Secretary ssid the nader was getting
instructions he would be ready 70 go with the ne.
gotiations. Another interview took place on the
Mnssr mentioned the Necessity secrecy osa
possible, when Mr. Seward replied, mo; that win
NOT do. Before ! can mention to you the sum we
snd p psss ausor nom o h sA'i
and my colleagues to stand on. Your gov
respect, but here matter VIII transpre e soon a.
| you touch IT, He afterwards remarked that the
ns but @
| by him then would instantly revive them. On the
9Th e. April the psn.s nays ne T S;m sent c for
desire entertained by the United states to purchase
the Danish West India possessIons-the whole Of
'ns &: i Danish P,Ssasaa ssr
e 1Sadisn whether H. seward Ss eDa
Y confidential, but II +, at the same time authentic.
TINS mater has been atty! sos m h az Inc Inc
United States Minister Resident a. Copenhagen had
asked whether It was true that the United states
were about to purchase the Danish West Indies but
that the Minister Resident would receive no answer
to that question. fhe Danish Minister Inquired II
this declaration was to be considered definite Mr..
Seward replied yes. and that II the Danish govern
ment should not be willing to adopt the course pro-
posed Il would probably be better to let the whole
matter drop.
Another conversation occurred on the 22G OF April,
when the Danish Minister informed the Secretary
why IL was Impossible for his government to name
the sum II would be willing to accept. After hear
ting him Mr.. Seward admitted that he had then IN
hs mind sum which the United states government
might be willing to pay for those Islands, and that
sum was even larger than the one he thought OF
when he first made the overtures. The increased
liberalIty he accounted for BY the improved cond-
tfon OF the country; but the Danish Minister
OF the sums he had In his mind. ON the
l4th OF June the Danish Minister sought Mr. Seward
and informed him that his government seemed viii