New-York tribune., 1896-01-03
GOOD FOE A NAVAL STA TION.
THE ADVANTAGES OF POSSESSING ST.
THOMAS TO THIS COUNTRY.

THE ADVANTAGES OF POSSESSING ST.
THOMAS TO THIS COUNTRY.
WHILE IT Is NOT BELIEVED THAT DENMARK
HAS OFFERED TO SELL THE ISLAND. IT is
POINTED OFT THAT PERHAPS LEASE
OF 1T MIGHT Re ARRANGED.
fBY TELEGRAPH TO THE rRrBuNE.l
Washington. Jan 2.-The suggestion that the Dan
ish Government would be willing to sell her Islands
in the West Indies the United States Is creating
a good deal Of interest among Naval officers. 1T
| would be- n great thing for from naval point
OF view" said Assistant Secretary McAdoo. Mind
I say from a naval point OF view. for. OF course
do not TO discuss the matter in any other
aspect. That is a matter for the President and
others talk about, But from naval point OF
view have hesitation In saying that It would
be extremely valuable acquisition. st. Thomas
Ia undoubtedly the most valuable Of the Danish
Islands for naval purposes. for the harbor is such
that It would accommodate the largest vessels"
The report that the Danish Government is con-
templating an offer sell St Thomas to the United
States s received with surprise by diplomats
and those familiar with the history of these islands
Secretary Seward made an attempt to purchase the
islands nearly thirty years price of $.5co0OD
agreed on by the negoa tors and tho propogl-
ton was accepted by the Danish Government and
was also presented to the people of St Thomas and
confirmed by an almost unanimous vote And after
all the Senate OF the United States TO use the words
Of n distinguished statesman now In washington.
threw the treaty in the waste basket" Il can
ha rdly believe" said this same gentleman. VINO re-
called the action Of the Senate that occasion.
that the Danish Government after that incident.
would come forward and offer this property TO us
again Perhaps It might be brought about in some
indirect way. but do not believe the offer would
come "a n direct one. happen to know from per
sonal knowledge that those who were at the head
81 the Danish Government at that time were very
much chagrned at the treatment they received
from tho United States in this matter"
"Nhit the caus" OF the rejection by the
senate of tho propositon?'
Senator sumner VAS hostile to the proposition
and did not agree with Secretary Sewards general
policy OF accumulating outside territory. Seward
had what might almost be termed a mania for
acquiring possessions outside o, the United States
for this country Besides bringing about the
Alaska purchase. he was very anxious for the pur-
chase Of st Thomas and certain purchases in san
Domingo IL had plan als2 for me purchase PAS or
purchase ana annexation Of Greenland. who're he
hel .eycd there valuable mineral deposits. The
CHEZ obstacle which prevented the purchase OF -
Thomas the belief OF the part II the Senators
Who we're called on to vote on the treaty that the
sentiment OF the country against the purchase.
We were shown that 4 couple Of wears later when
Commission which went there was very favorable
g. IL President Grant was very anxious 10 hrlnS
(, about. but whom Il came TO getting congres.onal
acquisition, reflected by members of Congress was
''jo yon think tha, It will now preven, the pur-
THAT tho island OF 81 Thomas would be the
most valuable OF the three islands owned by the
tho tat Santa cruz, another OF the ISLANDS, has
more Land m re peoplc ana IS more 'er,ile out II
s,atcs wants IN making a purchase Of this sor'.
good harbor and coaling station are the feaiures
he he' rmi,eG States Would form convenient and
of ne lower Antilles. whore the land swings south-
ward to the coast Of south America. II Is about
large as ihe District OF columbia ana possesses
mr'.r,e Old ,ow1. Char.otte Amaiia. a jargon OF
languages which would delight the heart ot the
@sn,sd ossSsd aa :, PTSoomo- is directly in the line Of
steamships passing between NSwrork and e,roH Ho"'n
American ports and between places In turope, IL
would bc convenIsn c9ans sta,ipn, espe''tE oa
depot not only FOR naval vessels but Tor merchah-
men. - e... ..,r l., ,,. -,
Treasury shortage and In tho face OF the traditional
dislncinat!on 10 purchase such properly s'ilousy
take up this question Is doubtful Yet II 4 known
that the matter ia being seriously considered In
official circ.-s and the suggestion has been made
islands which would be equivalent to tho sale and
provide hxed Income sor the Danish , Iov,rhnf. Tns
method Of obviating a needed naval station In that
soCu4h oil M in rs eor, TO lease the harb5r
privileges Of Samana Bay and Mole 81; Nicholas;
and probably would have been completed In regard
10 the Samana Bay property had not the head or
the Government owning It faied to carry out AZ thr
last moment the terms OF the asreement unier
which that property wac acquired. The terms m
culcl ca OF $4,000 and an annEa. pay
ment thereafter. with the agreement that the lnitei
States might. in case OF making coaling station
upon the Island In Samana Bay. nso erect such
f1r;incatons upon the island and neghboring main
land a. would be sufficient for It's permanent pro.
lection Should Il be possible 70 make a lsase or
thla kind with the Danish Government FOR ST
Thomas II IT, not unlikely mat ,ugsestioh OF 'h's
kind might be favorably received by Congress.