The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1900-05-09
70 FORCE An ISSUE
ON MONROE E)0CT RINE
German Intrigue Is Revealed
by Denmark Minister.
TOPURGHAsE VEST INDIES
German Government Is Making an Ell
fort to Invade Western Hemisphere
by Securing IsIaads-Root's Speech
Based Upon These Facts.

WASHINGTON, May 2.-The speech
of Secretary of War Root at the Gran1
banquet in New York has attracted
much attention in Washington because
of it's reference to the Monroe doctrine
and the secretary's apparent conviction
that it is but question Of time, and nos
long time at that, when this country
will have to fight to sustain that doc
trine. Secretary Root declared in so
many words that the time IS rapidly ap-
preaching ia our history as a nation
when we shall have to either abandon
the Monroe doctrine or fight for it.
It is stated on good authority that Sec
retary Roots hint at the possibility OF
war to maintain the Monroe doctrine
was called forth by an intrigue concern
ing the Danish West India Islands. 1t
appears that H. II. Rogers of the Stand
ard Oil company made a verbal agree
ment with Denmark that il he should
negotiate sale of the islands he should
receive a commission Of 10 per cent of
the purchase price. Captain W. Won
Christmas Dirckinck- -Hohenfeld has also
been acting as agent of the Danish gov
ernment. All accounts agree that Den
mark is very anxious to get rid OF her
West Indian possessions. Rogers and
Captain Christmas having Quarrelled,
and the former having declared that 1t
was in his power to defeat any negotla-
tions that did nov recognize his rights as
agent, Captain Christmas advised Sec
retary Hay of a plan to exchange the
islands with Germany for territory III
Europe.
He stated that unless congress acts on
the Danish West India matter By June
plan will be carried out to exchange
the islands with Germany for the whole
or a part Of North Scbleswig, which,
with Holstein, was taken from Denmark
bv Germany in 1867, and which country
it has always been the fondest hope OF
all Denmark to possess.
Captain Christmas, according to the
statement, had an interview with Presl-
dent Mckinley and pointed out the I'M
portance of purchasing the island: AS
consequence Secretary White Of the Lon
don embassy was sent from London to
negotiate directly with Denmark.
His mission became known to Rogers.
He insisted on his 10 per cent commits
sion and declared that he would prevent
sale to the United States unless he re-
ceived $500, 900. Rogers became involved
i'll a quarrel with Captain Christmas:
Thereupon Captain Christmas revealed
to Secretary Hay the entire story OF
! German intrigue.
1t seems that Denmark is now dis
posed to make the deal with Germany.
1t has been said by those who are close
to the Danish government that King
Christian Will not allow the United
States to plead the Monroe doctrine as q
bar to negotiations with Germany for
the ceding CT the islands to other coIn-
tries. He WIZ maintain that he has
already given the Monroe doctrine sufl-
cient consideration III that he offered
number OF times to sell the islands to
the Urited States and at the time the
negotiations have all fallen through on
account of failure OF congress to ratify
agreements Of tie negotiations begun.