Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-05-01
Declaration of State Department as to
Negotiations.
TREATED WITH NO THIRD PARTY
instructions Sent to Mr.. White on
the Subject. i
REPORT NOT {rS6 W N

LIE oldle bepdTtIlelfl mas duWlOT1Zeu unS
declaration that it has never recognized
any individual in connection with the pro-
posed acquisition by the United States of
the Islands of the Danish West Indies; that
it has no knowledge that any private per-
son has ever interposed in the negotiations
on that subject, and, finally, that the ne
gotiations have never been influenced di-
rectly or indirectly by unofficial persons.
This statement is called forth by the pub
lication Of the details Of what is represented
to be an attempt on the part of persons con-
nected with the Standard OIL Company to
force the Danish government to pay them
a commission on the sale Of the islands to
the United States government. The depart
ment officials say that, of course, they are
not competent to affirm deny the truth
of the allegations as to what passed be-
tween any such parties and the Danish
government officials, but for themselves,
they are able to enter the broadest denial
of any connecd on with or knowledge OF
such an Intervention. The Secretary of
State does not even know the person named
Rogers, and represented to be connected
with the Standard Oil Company, who initi-
ated the attempt to intervene for the COM
mission.
Facts of the Case.
The facts of the case, so far as the State
Department Is concerned and is aware, are
as follows: Following the publication of
rumors to the effect that the Danish gov
eminent was about to sell the islands to
the United States last fall Danish army
officer named Captain Christian Dirkfeld
appeared In Washington and sought in
terview with the Secretary of State. Sec
Rotary Hay heard through the press in ad-
vance of his coming to Washington that
this officer was charged with a mission
Indian Islands. Captain Dirkfeld told
different story, however, when he saw the
Secretary. He said that while he was an
officer of the Danish government, he had
absolutely no authority to deal with the
United States government respecting those
Islands, but he had for years been of the
opinion that it would be for the benefit of
the islands and of Denmark to make the
transfer to the United States, and he had
come to Washington, not to make any
proposition, but to offer the State Depart
ment the benefit of his personal knowledge
and experience, having made the condi-
tons in the islands the subject of many
years special study. Secretary Hay lis
tened with interest to Captain DIrkfeds
representations, and, thanking him for his
tender. promised to call upon him whenever
there should be need for his services.
Instructions to Mr.. White.
Then the secretary, acting upon the init
nation that the Danish government might
be thinking of selling, sent an instruction
to Mr.. White the United States secretary
of embassy at London, to run down to Co
penhagen and investigate. Mr.. White per-
formed his task with the ability and thor
OughneSs which always characteriZeS his
work, and his report to the State Depart
ment is all that there Is on file respecting
the Danish Islands of recent date, or in
fact. within the past five years.
Touching the conclusions reached by Mr..
White the State Department officials say
nothing. The report was communicated in
substance to the members of the Senate
committee on foreign relations. as well as to
n he a. n Gt rat ~
in the House of Representatives. and it is
supposed that 1t contained a statement of
the terms upon which the Danish govern
ment was willing to make the sale. But
in any event it makes plain the fact that
the negotiations were conducted exclusively
between Mr. White and the Danish govern
ment officials, and that unofficial per-
son or third party entered into them, and
the State Department has no objection to
that fact appearing at this stage. Mr..
Whites appearance in the United States at
this time has no connection whatever with
the island project. according to the State
Department officials.
The secretary of embassy is here on
leave of absence. having been steadily two
has not even been in Washington since
his return to the United States, but has
spent his time in New York, though he is
expected to pay a visit to the State De-
partment before he returns to London.
No Connection With Monroe Doctrine.
Inc of1clals are at q loss to perceive any
reasonable connection between Mr.. Whites
negotiations and the Monroe doctrine ref
erence made by Secretary Root in his New
York speech. Whatever be the nature of
Mr.. Whites report, it is said that 1t does
not disclose purpose the part of the
Danish government to sell the islands to
any other power than the United States
so that an objection to such a sale would
be purely hypothetical at this time.
Secretary Root himself was not accessi-
BILE today, being confined to his home by
attack of illness.