New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-04-01
NAY PURCHASE ST. THOMAS
MIR. LODGES BILL FOR THAT PURPOSE
FAVORABLY REPORTED.
DbNMARRs WEST INDIAN POSSESSIONS OFFERED
TO THIS COUNTRY FOR 5000 o0o-IMPoR-
TANCE or CONTROLLING THE
ISLANDS At THIS TINE.
InY TrIEcnArH 10 THE TnInryE.l ,

frT TrTECnsrH TO THE TnrHrSE.l
Washington. March 3l.-Denmark has offered
Its island possessions in the West Indies for the
round sum OF SjOO0ooo. and If the Senate gives
formal assent to the acquisition Of the Islands
the formalities Of the transfer can be completed
in n few days The Danish Minister ir Wash
ington Constantine Brun. has been authorized
TO sign q treaty ceding tho possessions OF his
country to the United States the moment the
Senate is placed on record as promising TO ratify
the instrument. Denmark declining to run the
risk Of n second failure to accept her offer. In
the former instance after similar treaty was
concluded under President Grants first Admin
istration. the consideration at that time being
S.JOo000. the Senate refused to ratify the
agreement. and tho sale fell through.
Since that time its West Indian possessions
have constituted a severe drain on the resources
Of the small kingdom. which IS without other
external property 10 guard, the Danish West
Indian budget showing an annual deficit averas-
ing $l23.cOO. This Improbable colony was still
held at a high figure until the renewed and
emphatic enunciation OF the Monroe Doctrine
by President Cleveland two years ago. which
convinced Denmark that no European country
could undertake to bid against the United states
for the purchase OF St Thomas and the price
promptly fell to 100000 President Cleveland.
violently opposed to all territorial acquis ton
and he ignored the proposition
LODGE Bill. FAvoRAnLY REPORTED.
About year AGO however. Senator Lodge
became aware Of the offer and promptly in,ro-
duced bill enabling its acceptance. This was
allowed 10 slurnhcr until today. when it was IA
vorably reported by the Foreign Relations Com
mittce II directs the President II the United
States to purchase the Danish West India Isl
ands OF -. Cr0ix. St. Thomas and 81. John. or
any Of them. for naval and coaling station.
The purchase is 70 be made on such terms as
he may in his discretion deem advisable. The
sum Of S5.O0000O, or so much thereof may
be necessary. is appropriated for the purchase.
FOR \ NAVAL EASE or OPERATIONS.
The Navy Is prepared 20 establish its extreme
eastern base az 81 Thomas within four days
OF the conclusion Of the negotiations. either ~
the dispatch II the FLYING Squadron from
Hampton Roads. 1900 miles distant. or hy send
ing several vessels 90 KY West. which rs just
] 600 miles away. A. thc present tme The im-
rortancc Of st. Thomas is cVtraord.nary as l.
commands the island - Porto Rico. which "a
next TO H. and on which Spain is tottIy d"-
pendent as stopping place between 3D." cana
ries and Cuba 4 few American cruisers NJ s..
Thomas would offecfu1Iy prohibit spain rs use
O, Porto Rico th" Spanish fleet being powcri'fs
70 maintain a blockade
Denmark WIFI not consent - coll loss than
her entire colonial possessions. which incln1"
the Islands - So Thomas Santa '~'ir S.
Johns and several smaller KEYS grouped ci''oiY
together. - Thomas is about as IalE" t1 Man
haitian Island being twelve miles loug ana iif-"
miles wide, 10 ia mountainous. and supports a
pOuuiafisf - aNr.t .er 'N i"i. If Us t1"
prIrcfoas port - ~ef f.r ..r-uan' ana var
vessels IN the Western Atlantic. n large 7rpr Is
o, coal being always maintained there ln add
ton 20 its excellent docking facilities Its har-
Dor IS unsurpassed IN the "orlr and easily
guarded
Santa Cruz. or g Cro!v as % e now called. e
much larger than 81. Thomas and s famous
FOR It's sugar and rum.
PLANNING TO LEASE MOLE ST %iCu1 u1LAs
with n declaration - war tho ability ~ th"
United States 10 maintain a base az -. Thomas
VIII be promptly Insured hy the lease of Mole
ST. Nicholas. Hayti as a midway c0ai!ng station
between Key West and S. Thomat Arrange
ments 20 carry this into effect hav" already
been made and Within twcafy-f0ur hours htY
thousand tons of COAL which i7 already anoat
and owned bv the Navy. would D" Fastening
toward ST. Thomas ard De- So. Nicholas un-
der armed convoy Mole 81. Nicholas i- con-
sldercd hy the naval stratcgiste scarcely lces
important than s. Thomas II g. directly across
the Wiudwari Passage from Cape Maysl tho
eastern extremity of cuba and wouG command
that end ~ the island rendering the nechhor-
hood utterly uncongcnial to an encmys ships.