Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1900-05-01
What Caused Secretary Root to
Give Warning Of War;
UPHOLDS MONROE DOCTRINE
win Not Allow Germany 20 Acquire
the Danish West Indies What
Denmark May DO.
tEarly D-ispatchesI

New York. May 1.-The Times pub
fishes an elaborate article declaring
that Secretary OF War Roots address
az the Grant dinner last Friday night,
in which DE limited at the possibility Of
war TO maintain the Monroe doctrine,
was called forth by am intrigue con-
corning the Danish West Indies islands.
IL appears that IL. H.. Rogers Of the
Standard OH company, made a verbal
agreement with Denmark that it he
should negotiate o sale of the islands
he should receive a commission OF ten
per cent Of the purchase price. Captain
w, Won Christmas Dirigkneck-ll0hen
field has also been acting as agent of
the Danish government. an accounts
agree that Denmark is very anxious TO
get rid Of her West Indian possessions.
Mr. Rogers and Captain Christmas have
quarreled. ana the former having de-
CIared that 10 was In his power Co defeat
any negotiations that ala not recognize
his rights as agent, Captain Christmas
advised Secretary Hay of "a plan 60 eN-
change the islands With Germany for
territory I'm Europe. He states that UNI
less Congress acts on the Danish West
Indies islands matter before June lst,
a scheme will be carried out 20 esq
change the Islands with Germany for
the whole on a part of North Schleswig,
which. with Holstein, was taken from
Denmark by Germany boo 1867, and
which country It has always been the
fondest hope OF an Danes to recover.
The sudden appearance in this c1un-
try of Secretary White. of the American
embassy Coz London, has also 90 DO with
this matter of the sale of the Danish
West India islands. according 10 the
Times. Mr.. White vas the agent OF the
United states I'm Denmark during the
negotiations. and to- him the Danish
government named the price 30 wanted
for the islands, between S5. 900, 900 and
"a. 200. 900.
Mr.. White, It Is said, failed 10 tell the
state department that the United states
would have 10 buy the islands during
his session OF Congress or abandon AN
hope forever Of getting possession Of
them, and that be also did not impress
upon the state department the fact that
falling the negotiations with the United
states, Germany was sure 10 get pos
session Of the islands. either through
ccsslon or lease. il Is To- make these
matters more clear TO the state depart
mrut while Congress is stIll iu session
that Mn. White was summoned here.
IL was not until the early part Of 1899 !
that negotiations concerning abe Dan
ish West Indian Islands We're taken up. |
At the time Captain Christmas was
sojournlng ln Germany as a retired
captain % the Danish navy. He had
just returned from a "trip TO the Danish
West India Islands. where he had been
making maps Of the haTb0rs and forth
hcations there. He was approached by
"a syndicate OF Germans who asked him
20 use his influence la Copenhagen TO
obtain from the Danish government a
contract with Germany by which the
could purchase the island Of ST.
John.
Captain Christmas was not slow IN
asserting that this would be- next TO I'M
possible. for the reason that the United
would neither allow Denmark 20
sell the island Co a foreign power nor
would II allow Germany 90 purchase Il,
because Of the Monroe doctrine.
In HE report 90 the Danish govern
nent, Captain Christmas attaches the
proposition Of the syndicate 90 his pa
1ers. This shows that the head OF the
syndicate was Admiral Won Zirz0w. Of
The royal German navy, and that he
and others OF the syndicate had. ln am
o. the cedinE on sale OF the
to Germany bought up options
" an the land adjacent 90 the harbors.
and SO, In the event N the acquisition
n the island by Germany, he and the
members Of the syndicate stood In the
Of virtual owners OF the land.
md could dictate terms 70 the pur-
'hasing power.
When the lmpossibility OF this scheme
vas pointed out 10 Admiral Won Zirzlw.
BE- asked Captain Christmas TO obtain
lther concessions Tor the syndicate.
imong them 90 form a German colony
M the island under the Danish lag. and
PERMISSION 20 use the harbor as a coal
ng station for German war vessels.
Captain Christmas. while apparently
alling IN with their scheme, laid the
whole matter before Minister HoerrInp
% rs true light. The outcome OF mis-
that the permission was denied on