New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-01-17
DENMARK's AMERICAN POSSESSIONS

SENATOR LODGE FAyoRs ACQUIRING Alb OF
THEM. INcLuDING GREENLAND
| WASHINGTON jan Ex-senator Lodge, who intro
duced the resolution to investigate the report '"'
the Danish Government was willing TO sell us S'auS
in the West Indies, In discussing 'Hd' Su"J'0' "u"S
| said to i United Press reporter:
In January, 1865, during the Presidency OF NJ I'm
coin. Mr.. seward opened negotiations Tor , the pal-
treaty was signed at Copenhagen FOR the Gessloh %
Seward having decided that he did not care TO puI-
chase the island of St Cr0X ne lHitpI.i Va "
ion Inf the treaty came to nothing. because IN"
Senate failed to raify II. although INC 'ie lo '"
ucaton was extended for "A year.
Mr. Stewards object was to secure what we nave
aiway, sre%y ns e5 c a M! station in The
| Indies This would be furnished by the admirable
harbor Of ST. Thomas 1t IS now Reported thal Den
mark would willing again TO part with the sIihdS
The editor of of the leading 1ansh hr"5PdpeaS
who has lately been in the United Sta"S salu ~ an
interview lhat Denmark would be glad 10 Seil me
islands. which were an ekpense TO her' au. s'iT e
atod she was. had for her no special n!i'e ,h
also said that while Denmark would prefer 20 sen tr
Islands to the United SiateS ene . eel then,
TO Germany or some other European POWER. II
AMI nna Win which the United States ought TO deal
at once II Is. In the first place very ipoi an .'
ing station and this has been recognized LOT many
years by successive Administrations ,,,,ou,or,
question OF our general policy Inc possessions Oh
small European Power are constan, di'sTp, De
oausc they may at any moment be oifered 10 some OF
the great Powers of Europe and their transfer %qud
hiring M very perous questions, whlcf III Wouu De
well to avoid. II is in the interest Oh me nleI
Stntes that there should be no opportunity oHrrrd
FOR any of the great Powers OF Europe 10 secure al
difional territory in the Americas. We wouii, ~
course resist such transfers as Violations OF me
Monroe Doctrine. because they would disturb the
condition of territorial ownership In the Americas
kissing al the time when that doctrine was de-
clared But IL would be much SAFER ana better 10
avoid raising any such question at al by taking
ourselves the possessions of Il Power IKE denmark
bv Bile cession and arrangement bt tween the
Danish Government and our own II such treaty
could he made IL ought II possible. TO Include all
the Danish possessions In the Americas, none or
which are valuable TO them, but "hich are all I'M
portant to us The Danish possessions consist or
The three West India islands Of ST John. St Thomas
and 81 Crolx and Greenland. The three Islands
have an area Of about li2 square miles. ana popu
latlon OF about 5000 Three-fourths OF the popula
non ar. negroes and the remaining one-tourth are
DANISH and English. sugar Is raised on the ISL
ands and there il "A considerable trade with them.
Greenland has an OF $1,000 square miles and
a population of l00rp. which is composed OF
Danes and EsqumauX ~. A., ,,,
The reason for acquiring the West indla lsIands;
anart from the question Of general policy which I
have stated IL obvious in the fact that they furnsh
an bic naval station for us in the West In
dies and have u small population. In regard to